Human skin, tattooed, said to be figure of youth, French, 19th century Tattooed skin, said to represent figure of youth 1801-1900
Human skin, tattooed with woman's head with illegible inscription French, 1880-1920 Human skin 1880-1920
Human skin, tattooed with female figure, French, 19th century, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin 1801-1900
Human skin tatooed with various motifs, probably dated 1899, French, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin tatooed with various motifs 1899
Human skin tattooed with medallion on ribbon, French, 1830-1900, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin tattooed with medallion on ribbon 1830-1900
Human skin, tattooed with heart, with inscription surmounted by cross, French, 1850-1900. Tattoo - black ink applied in large dots, most likely using a medium-size needle bundle, applied by hand, amateur execution. Inscription appears to be two letters, one an 'A', the other is illegible. Skin - very thin, yellow-beige colouration, asymmetric shape. Human skin 1850-1900
Human skin, tattooed with clothed female figure and inscription, French, 1850-1920 Human skin 1850-1920
Human skin, tattooed with male and female figures copulating, French, 1850-1900 Human skin, tattooed with male and female figures 1850-1900
Human skin, tattooed with male figures and inscription, French, 1830-1900, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin 1830-1900
Human skin, tattooed with naval badge, French, 1850-1900. Tattoo - military insignia with anchor and two axes. Inscription reads '7S'. Clear linework, very fine, poorly executed in some places with beading, but indicative of machine application, which would suggest that the tattoo was applied not earlier than around 1890. Colouring/shading especially poor, patchy, small needle grouping perhaps used to shade as well as line, evidence of circular shading technique, though not resulting in solid application of ink. Skin - Cream-yellow colour, white residue on surface which appears chalky. Rougly circular sample, thin cross-section. Human skin 1890-1900
Human skin, tattooed with inscription, French, 1850-1900. Tattoo - black outlined capital lettering which reads 'ARSENE MOINE', one word above another, seperatied by in indistinct shape/symbol. Extensive feathering due either to age or poor application technique; amateur execution, letters irregular. Skin - yellow- brown colouration, parchment-like appearance, roughly square shape, thin cross-section. Human skin 1850-1900
Human skin tattooed with female nude and badge, consisting of heart with crossed anchor and crucifix, French, 1850-1920, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin tattooed with female nude and badge 1850-1920
Human skin tattooed with woman's head and shoulders and inscribed with place names including Algerie and Sahara, French, 1880 to 1920, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin tattooed with woman's head and shoulders and inscribed with place names 1880-1920
Human skin, tattooed with flower, French, 1830-1900. Tattoo - the design is a large, 3 petaled flower with stem and leaves, executed in black ink with distinct, thick black dots forming the outline. The centre of the petals and leaves are decorated with numerous smaller black spots. Hand made, amateur workmanship. Skin - yellow- white colouration, white possibly a surface residue, rectangular shape cut to frame design. Human skin 1830-1900
Human skin, tattooed with male figure, French, 19th century. Tattoo - the tattooed figure outlined in black is virtually undecipherable due to the poor condition of the skin. Skin - orange-umber colouration, a large area of the skin is effected by a white residue which obscures most of the tattoo beneath. Rectangular shape, surgically cut straight edges, the skin is damaged with a wide tear at one end and another smaller tear, with some wrinkling, towards the centre of the sample. Human skin 1801-1900
Human skin tattooed with figures in 18th century dress, French, 1750-1920, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin tattooed with figures in 18th century dress 1750-1920
Human skin, tattooed with flowers and indecipherable inscription, French, 19th century Human skin 1801-1900
Human skin, tattooed with nude female figure and flower, probably French, 19th century, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin 1801-1900
Human skin, tattooed with military badge, French, 1860-1900. Tattoo - black outlined five point star within a crescent moon, with the symbols 'I.Z' (or '1.Z') beneath. Linework is smooth, showing some skill, but not a consistent thickness. Skin - grey-white colouration with some reddish-coloured stains at right edge. A thin milky residue covers most of the skin, which is transparent where the residue is absent. Trapezius shape, thin cross-section. Human skin 1860-1900
Human skin, tattooed with three male busts, and medallion, probably French, 1851-1920 Human skin 1851-1920
Human skin, tattooed with two playing cards, French, 1850-1900. Tattoo - two playing cards executed in black, with bottom points meeting along one edge, a black spade and a heart in the centre of each card respectively. Design is crude and amateur, showing some feathering and potential beading. Skin - dirty white-greyish and brown at the edges, very thin cross-section, roughly oblong in shape. Human skin 1850-1900
Human skin, tattooed with stars, moons and abstract pattern, probably French, 1850-1920 Human skin 1850-1920
Human skin, tattooed with soldier's bust, French, 1860-1920. Tattoo - black outline of soldier in profile wearing a cap and possibly smoking a cigarette, though this area of the design is faded. Appears hand drawn using a pricking method, numerous individual dots making up the tattoo. Skin - yellow colouration, translucent, very thin cross-section. Roughly square shape, some dark hairs visible on the surface. Human skin 1860-1920
Human skin tattooed with 2 women's heads with hats, and half of full length figure of sailor, French, 1880-1920, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin tattooed with two women's heads and a sailor, France, 1880-1920 1880-1920
Human skin with tattoo of women's heads, some with hats, and butterflies, French, 1900-1920 Human skin, with tattoos of women's heads 1900-1920
Human skin, tattooed with dagger in belt, French, 1830-1900. Tattoo - black outlined dagger with four dots placed around it to form the points of a rectangle, and a strap or belt decorated with tesselating triangles with a dot in the centre of each one. The edges of another adjacent tattoo, which may have been a nautical star, is visible at the lower edge, but has been cut through. Tattoo appears to be executed by hand using joined dots. Skin - mottled yellow-white and dark brown colouration, the brown layer appears to be the uppermost one. Irregular eliptical shape, thick, fleshy cross-section, hairs visible at edges. Human skin 1830-1900
Human skin, tattooed with female figure in national costume holding rose in right hand, French, 1850-1920 Human skin 1850-1920