Product Description

Despite a growing fascination with tattooing among social scientists--and the popularity of tattoos themselves in general--the practice of tattooing has lacked a comprehensive historical record. Until very recently, there was no good context for writing a serious world history of tattooing. This new volume conveys the richness of the history of tattooing from antiquity to the present day.
Unlike most other tattoo books that describe one aspect this book conveys the overall picture. It takes you to each of the seven continents with descriptions of their tattoo history and tattoo practices. Thus the book provides the reader with a truly global view of tattooing. It adds new information and new examples and insights that give the reader a new perspective.

By combining empirical history, powerful cultural analysis, and a highly readable style, the author adds an important step to the ongoing effort of writing a meaningful cultural history of tattooing. He does not draw new conclusions or present shocking new theories, but suggests and invites the reader to form his own opinions. This publication presents the reader with a vast amount of textual and visual information. From the well known examples from Tahiti to rarely seen Chinese tattoos, from the Ice Maiden to modern day Western tattoos--they are all there. Many of the approximately 400 color illustrations are unique images that have never been published before.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #481918 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 300 pages

About the Author
Maarten Hesselt van Dinter is a cultural anthropologist and one of the leading Dutch experts on tattoos. His research for this book took over 10 years.

Customer Reviews

heavily-illustrated encyclopedic survey of tattoos in world's cultures
The encyclopedic work answers the fascination with tattoos in contemporary society by focusing on the origin and purpose of tattoos in ancient and aboriginal cultures in all parts of the world. In modern society, tattoos are a matter of personal choice and often personal design, whereas in ancient and aboriginal societies, a tattoo was "the tribal variant...generally applied according to custom and associated with taboos and magic." These "variants" are covered in richly-illustrated, anthropological-like chapters on the different areas of the world. Innumerable illustrations include color photographs of tattooed individuals, historical art works showing tattoos, photographs of tattoos being put on, tattooing instruments, and close-ups of tattoos showing their details. With its diversity of captivating visual matter, encyclopedic scope, and informative, general-interest text, "The World of Tattoo" is a leading text on this subject of renewed interest in contemporary life; and it can also be used as a reference for tattooing in particular cultures or particular historical eras.

*Intelligent and Tattooed? Buy this one. *
This is an amazing collection of images and information on tattoos around the world. This book is completely worth it to not only the naive belly button pierced,lower back tattooed 18 yr. old American female but also to the full body suited,societally rejected,modification community member.It is SUCH a great resource you'll want to lend it to everyone you know with an interest in the art. Buy it,you seriously will not regret it.

Focuses on world tattoo culture and traditions
Tattoos are an ever-increasing part of modern life and more tattoo books are being published as a result: but none quite so extensive or detailed as The World Of Tattoo: An Illustrated History, which focuses on world tattoo culture and traditions. With sections divided by area of the world and packed with pages of color photos, it's easy to focus study on one region - and with World Of Tattoo's focus on history and cultural insights, there's much more going on than just a photo display alone. Highly recommended not just for modern audiences interested in tattoo, but for any college-level collection strong in cultural references.