Classic Tattoo Stencils

A staggering volume of thousands of examples of the celluloid acetate stencil, an essential tool in the history of tattooing. Mythical creatures, angels and devils, anchors and other nautical symbols, andmore abound in stencil form, the classic tracing method that has only increasedexponentially in popularity since the rough days of crude materials andcallused hands. Before Thermofax™ and numbing cream, tattooists hadto hone their tracing skills perfectly—and clients had to hope for the best. Overtime, artists would ask sailors and dock workers to let them trace remarkable tattoosthey got at other ports, effectively inventing design replication. Today tattooartists use tattoo stencils to transfer designs onto wood, quilts, and evencabinets. A worthy companion to Flashfrom the Bowery: Classic American Tattoos, 1900–1950, this volume continuesto ignite the curiosity of American history and tattoo buffs.