Tattoos and sailors have been linked for centuries. Far from being purely decorative, many traditional sailor tattoos told a story. They could reveal where a sailor had travelled, the work he had done, or the dangers he had faced. Others were worn for luck, protection or simply as a reminder of home.
This is the second in our two-part look at the fascinating world of traditional sailor tattoos. If you haven’t already, you may like to start with Sailor Tattoos – Their History and Meanings
Here are five more designs with strong connections to life at sea.
Mermaids
The sea has always inspired stories of strange and mysterious creatures, and few have captured the imagination quite like the mermaid.
Mermaids became a familiar part of traditional nautical tattooing, combining two enduring themes of sailors’ lives: the sea itself and thoughts of women left behind on shore.
Beautiful but belonging to an unpredictable world beneath the waves, the mermaid could also embody the romance, mystery and danger of the ocean. Over time she became one of the classic images of old-school sailor tattoo art, particularly in the bold designs that flourished during the twentieth century.
Harpoons
A harpoon tattoo was closely associated with sailors who made their living hunting or fishing at sea.
For a whaler in particular, the harpoon was more than simply a nautical symbol. It represented the dangerous work he actually performed and could act almost like a record of his occupation.
In this way, tattoos became a kind of visual language among sailors. A glance at another man’s tattoos might reveal something about the voyages he had made, the places he had visited or the work he had carried out at sea.
Crossed Cannons
Crossed ship’s cannons or guns traditionally indicated naval rather than merchant service.
For sailors serving aboard warships, the design reflected a very different experience of the sea from that of fishermen or merchant seamen. Naval and patriotic imagery was sometimes incorporated alongside the guns, particularly among members of the US Navy.
Like many traditional sailor tattoos, the design could therefore say something quite specific about the person wearing it rather than simply showing a general love of the sea.
Memento Mori
Life at sea could be dangerous, and death was never far from the minds of sailors. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that memento mori imagery also found its way into nautical tattooing.
Memento mori is Latin for “remember that you must die”, a centuries-old artistic tradition intended to remind people of the inevitability of death. Skulls, skeletons, daggers and other symbols of mortality have all appeared in tattoo art and could take on particular resonance for those whose lives were spent at sea.
For sailors, such imagery might serve as a reminder of their own mortality or commemorate friends and shipmates who had been lost.
A swallow pierced by a dagger is sometimes interpreted in modern tattoo lore as a symbol of loss or a life cut short. However, tattoo meanings have never been completely fixed, and it is better regarded as one interpretation rather than a universal historical sailor’s code.
Hold Fast
Few sailor tattoos are quite as evocative as the words HOLD FAST inked across the knuckles – HOLD on one hand and FAST on the other.
The expression has an obvious nautical meaning. To hold fast is to grip securely, something that could become a matter of life and death for sailors working among ropes and rigging in rough weather.
But the tattoo was more than practical advice.
Sailors traditionally believed that having the words tattooed across their knuckles would help give them a firm grip on the rigging and prevent them from letting go.
Whether or not the ink provided any supernatural assistance, Hold Fast remains a wonderfully appropriate sailor’s motto: keep your grip, weather the storm and don’t give up.
Sailor-Style Tattoos Today
Modern sailors may have GPS, sophisticated weather forecasting and engines to help them when the wind disappears, but the imagery created by generations of sailors has never really gone away.
Anchors, swallows, ships, mermaids and other nautical motifs remain staples of tattoo culture, particularly within the style often known as American traditional or old school tattooing.
Bold outlines, strong colours and instantly recognisable symbols give these designs a timeless quality. Modern neo-traditional tattooing has developed the style further, often introducing more elaborate detail, shading and colour while retaining many of the familiar motifs.
Today, someone wearing a swallow or mermaid may never have hauled a rope, crossed an ocean or served aboard a ship.
But behind those designs lies a fascinating piece of maritime history – a time when the tattoos on a sailor’s skin could tell you something about where he’d been, what he’d done and what he hoped would bring him safely home.
Want to discover more? Take a look at Sailor Tattoos – Their History and Meanings.
Lovesail Community
⚓ From tattoos to salty tales, sailors have always shared their passion for the sea. At Lovesail, you can meet others who share yours – whether you’re looking for dating, friendship or crewing opportunities. Join our global sailing community today.
Image courtesy of Sailor Jerry
“Hold Fast” sailor tattoo image. U.S. Navy photo by Levingston M. Lewis. Public domain.