Human skin, tattoed with wreathed inscription, probably French, dated 22nd September, 1857 Human skin 1857
Human skin, tattooed with abstract or unidentified motif, probably French, 19th century Human skin 1801-1900
Human skin from chest and abdomen, tattooed with two female heads and lion and lioness, French, 1830-1890, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin with tattoos 1830-1900
Human skin, tattooed with woman's head with illegible inscription French, 1880-1920 Human skin 1880-1920
Human skin, tattooed with clothed female figure, holding flowers above initial, French, 1850-1900 Human skin 1850-1900
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, 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 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 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 clothed female figure and inscription, French, 1850-1920 Human skin 1850-1920
Human skin tattooed with hand holding dagger, bunch of roses and table laid with cloth, wine and plate, French, 1850-1920, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin with various tattoos. 1850-1920
Human skin, tattooed with figure of blacksmith at work, with inscription French, dated 1862 Human skin, tattooed with figure of blacksmith with inscription, France, 1862 1862
Human skin, tattooed with male head and running nude female figure, possibly 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 star and head, French, 1850 to 1920, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin tattooed with star and head 1850-1920
Human skin tattooed with many figures, male and female cupid, hand with sword and flower, French, 1850-1920, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin tattooed with many figures 1850-1920
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 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 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 armed female figure, possibly Joan of Arc, French, 1850-1900 Human skin 1850-1900
Human skin, tattooed with yacht, French, 1850-1900. Tattoo - crude design of a ship with sails, dot technique used to outline in black, with a further 14 parrallel dots decorating the sails. Skin - orange-umber colour, visible pores with some pale body hairs. Rectangular shape, thin cross-section. Human skin 1850-1900
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 female figure, French, 19th century, purchased from La Valette in 1929 Human skin 1801-1900