These days hand tattoos, which were a no no for much of the old school world of tattoo, deploy stunningly vibrant variations of traditional tattoo work.

The American traditional tattoo originated with the work of Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins, who took to tattooing after mustering out of the Navy. He eventually settled in Honolulu, Hawaii, which gave him access to a huge cross section of servicemen, sailors, adventurers and tourists that he could help get inked.

American traditional tattoos are a mix of nautical imagery, war themes, and nods to tattoo tradition stretching back even before Sailor Jerry’s time. They feature bold lines, limited color, and simple design techniques.

American traditional tattoos focus heavily on black as the main pigment, with supporting colors coming in the form of simple yellows, green and red.

Some types of traditional tattoos still have the meanings they were ascribed in Sailor Jerry’s day, such as the anchor for crossing the Atlantic Ocean, or the dagger as a serviceman’s symbol of life and death.

Contemporary tattoo has built upon the legacy of Sailor Jerry with technical advancements and creativity. The rapid development of the neo traditional style of tattooing has meant new colors and stylistic interpretations are being added to the palette of American Traditional tattoo all the time. So much so it comprises more practising artists than every other style world wide.

The tattoos in this collection showcase a great range of traditional pieces from the Sailor Jerry school of tattoo, as well as inspiration derived from the era but executed with a modern twist.

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