"The Marks of Sea Legs" limited edition art print by Jolby
"The Marks of Sea Legs" limited edition art print
- 20” x 14” Limited Edition
- Sailors tattooed themselves for many reasons: protection, to list their achievements, and to keep them focused on their duties. The Meaning Behind Each Tattoo (Please see the last picture for reference letters) A. The shark tattoo a symbol of power and fearlessness. It’s been a long tradition among sailors to have a shark tattoo as proof you are not afraid of death at sea and for protection. B. A pig on the top of one foot and a rooster on the other was said to protect the seaman from drowning because both of these barnyard animals cannot swim so they would get the seaman quickly to shore. C. A seaman with 5,000 miles or more under his belt earned the right to a sparrow tattoo. D. The triangle has long been a powerful symbol of mysticism and otherworldliness, as in the cabalistic charm abracadabra, the letters of which used to be arranged on a piece of parchment in the form of a triangle and hung around the neck to ward off illness. E. A tattoo of a full-rigged sailing ship meant that a sailor had rounded Cape Horn, one of the most inhospitable, dangerous and feared stretches of water in the world. F. Wren’s feather protected the sailor from drowning. G. The sailors nickname was tattooed on their stomachs to show pride. H. Exotic patterns were tattooed to look like armor, protecting the sailor and showing that he had sailed to foreign lands. I. The knife or dagger represents ferocity, quickness, tenacity and death at the hands of another. The knife can also represent an assassin. J. A dragon showed the seaman had served on a Chinese station. K. “Hold” on the knuckles of one hand and “fast” on the other was said to help the seaman to better hold the riggings. L. Rope tattooed around the wrist meant the seaman was a deckhand. M. Names of the ports sailors visited would be tattooed on the wrist. N. The heart tattoo, shaped like an inverted triangle, and meant to symbolize the pubic triangle, is a universal symbol of a woman, often used as an expression of romantic love. O. Many young sailors got an anchor tattoo after their first crossing of the Atlantic. An anchor tattoo can be thought of as holding one steadfast, like an anchor holding a great sailing ship safe in harbour, against winds and currents that might carry it astray. P. A tattooed rose was a symbol of love. Flower tattoos, in general, are the embodiment of nature and concise symbols of the cycle of birth, life, procreation, death and rebirth. Q. A gun represented power, violence, and a determined personality. R. Sun: As a tattoo design and symbol, a Sun represents fertility, vitality, passion, courage and eternally renewed youth, light and knowledge. Moon: One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty (imperial authority), the moon is a symbol of heaven. S. Tattooed sea monsters could be considered sightings of these beasts or actual encounters. Sometimes even the killing of the depicted beast. T. Eyes were often painted on the sides of a ship’s bow so she could “see” her way safely across the water. U. In Western culture, the whale has long been a symbol of the great unknown. V. A mermaid is a legendary creature thought to be half human, almost always a woman, and half fish. Sailors usually reported seeing mermaids after having spent many months at sea, and probably after having too much rum or puffs from their pipe.
- Giclée Print on Hahnemühle Fine Art Paper
- Art by Portland artist duo Jolby aka Josh Kenyon & Colby Nichols
$30.00
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