Flash from the Bowery: Classic American Tattoos, 1900-1950

Between these pages are images of the original acetate rubbings from Charlie Wagner's turn of the 20th century tattoo shop, The Black Eye Barbershop, in the Bowery at Chatham Square in New York. This is the only known art that has survived from this shop, where Samuel J. O'Reilley's modern-day electric tattoo machine was born and patented. The imagery of this classic flash preserves the origins of American tattoos, when tattoo art was transferred to the client from these templates via an acetate stencil. Everything was done by hand until O'Reilley's electrified tattoo machine changed history. This rich heritage of folk art has more than 900 individual pieces of flash that provide commentary on the shop's clientele and reveal some of the social, economic, and political ideas of the time. Including nautical themes, Asian imagery, flowers, boxers, circus characters, and plenty of girls, this is an exciting collection of early American flash and a necessary book for the tattoo artist, aficionado, and student.

Author: Cliff White
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Published: 11/18/2011
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 5.00lbs
Size: 12.30h x 9.70w x 2.10d
ISBN13: 9780764339288
ISBN10: 0764339281
BISAC Categories:
- Art | Body Art & Tattooing
- Health & Fitness | Beauty & Grooming | General

About the Author
Cliff R. White opened his first tattoo shop, Cliff's Tattoo, in Centereach, New York, in August of 1989. He has been researching and collecting tattoo memorabilia and history for almost 30 years.