Body Decoration Collection

Mudman from Asaro district in the Highlands, at sing sing, Kowedobu, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Pacific

Japanese Man with Tattoos, c. 1910 (colour litho) (see also 398198)
473199 Japanese Man with Tattoos, c. 1910 (colour litho) (see also 398198); Private Collection; Prismatic Pictures .

Voodoo festival in the streets of Ouidah, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Sadhu with Shiva trident attending Haridwar Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India, Asia

Mura Indian, with Lip Ornaments; A Trip up the Trombetas, 1875. Creator: Unknown
Mura Indian, with Lip Ornaments; A Trip up the Trombetas, 1875. [Indigenous man from the Trombetas River region of the Amazon in South America]. From, Illustrated Travels by H.W. Bates

Hindoo Fakir, 1875. Creator: Unknown
Hindoo Fakir; (Elephant shooting in the Dehra Dhoon), 1875. [Indian holy man with pierced cheeks, holding an item of religious significance]. From, Illustrated Travels by H.W. Bates

Pair of Earspools with Eight-Pointed Star Motif, A. D. 1200 / 1400. Creator: Unknown
Pair of Earspools with Eight-Pointed Star Motif, A.D. 1200/1400. Mississippian, possibly Oklahoma, LeFlore County, Spiro

Warriors of New S. Wales engraved by M. Dubourg (fl. 1813-1820) 1813 (litho)
STC86585 Warriors of New S. Wales engraved by M. Dubourg (fl.1813-1820) 1813 (litho) by Clark, John Heaviside (1770-1863) (after); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English

The Dance, aborigines from New South Wales engraved by Matthew Dubourg (fl. 1813-1820) pub
STC86583 The Dance, aborigines from New South Wales engraved by Matthew Dubourg (fl.1813-1820) pub. 1813 (litho) by Clark

Mr and Mrs Frank Burgh demonstrate the art of tattooing in USA, 1893 (litho)
KDC384249 Mr and Mrs Frank Burgh demonstrate the art of tattooing in USA, 1893 (litho) by American Photographer (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Tattooed British sailor during the Great War of 1914-18 (back view) (b / w photo
473189 Tattooed British sailor during the Great War of 1914-18 (back view) (b/w photo) (see also 473188); Private Collection; Prismatic Pictures; out of copyright

Tattooed British sailor during the Great War of 1914-18 (front view) (b / w photo
473188 Tattooed British sailor during the Great War of 1914-18 (front view) (b/w photo) (see also 473189); Private Collection; Prismatic Pictures; out of copyright

Pictish Woman (lithograph)
BAL109993 Pictish Woman (lithograph) by White, John (fl.1570-93) (after); 23x17.8 cm; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Japanese Man with Tattoos, c. 1910 (photo) (see also 398199)
473198 Japanese Man with Tattoos, c. 1910 (photo) (see also 398199); Private Collection; Prismatic Pictures; out of copyright

Melanesian Man, ca. 1890-1899. Creator: Antonio Zeno Shindler
Melanesian Man, ca. 1890-1899

Kish-Kallo-Wa (Family Algonquian-Tribe Shawnee), 1832-1833. Creator: Henry Inman
Kish-Kallo-Wa (Family Algonquian-Tribe Shawnee), 1832-1833

Mackabarang, c1803. A native of New South Wales and known in the Colony by the name of Broken Bay Jack

Captain of a company of cannibal fighting men, New Guinea, 1922. Illustration from Peoples of All Nations, Their Life Today and the Story of Their Past, volume II, British Empire to Dahomey

Heo-a-h co-a-h -cotes-min, a Flat head Warrior, 1848. Artist: Harris
Heo-a-h co-a-h -cotes-min, a Flat head Warrior, 1848. Native American with a painted face. An engraving from the Natural History of Man, by James Cowles Prichard, published by Hippolyte Bailliere

Nah-Pope (The Soup), A Sac Warrior, 1848. Artist: Harris
Nah-Pope (The Soup), A Sac Warrior, 1848. Native American of the Sac or Sauk people. An engraving from the Natural History of Man, by James Cowles Prichard, published by Hippolyte Bailliere, (London)

Native Troopers Dispersing A Camp, Australia, 1886. Artist: Frank P Mahony
Native Troopers Dispersing A Camp, Australia, 1886. An aboriginal man being chased away from his camp during the colonisation of Australia

Native of Mozambique, c1850. Artist: James Prichard
Native of Mozambique, c1850. Tattooed inhabitant of Mozambique, Africa. Engraving from the Natural History of Man by James Pritchard, (London, 1855)

A Pokomo drummer from the Tana River district of Kenya

A Msai warrior with his long braids and body coated with red ochre mixed with animal fat. He has put ochre dust round his eyes to enhance his appearance ready for a dance

A Msai warrior in full battle cry, his long-bladed spear at the ready

Two Msai warriors in full regalia. The headdress of the man on the left is made from the mane of a lion while the one on the right is fringed with black ostrich feathers

A Mursi woman wearing a large clay lip plate. Shortly before marriage, a girls lower lip will be pierced and progressively stretched over a year or so

A back view of a Msai warrior resplendent with long ochred braids tied in a pigtail. This singular hairstyle sets him apart from other members of his society

Detail of a Msai warriors ear ornaments and other beaded or metal adornments. The Msai practice of piercing ears in adolescence and gradually elongating the lobes is gradually dying out

During an eunoto ceremony when Msai warriors become junior elders, their heads are shaved and they daub themselves with white clay

A Dassanech man with a shock of hair.; The Omo Delta of southwest Ethiopia is one of the least accessible and least developed parts of East Africa

Msai youth with decorated face
Black clothing and the intricate white patterns on the face of this Msai youth of the Kisongo section signify his recent circumcision

Msai warriors draw water from a deep well. The depth of wells is measured by the number of men required to bring water to the cattle troughs at the top of them

A Msai warrior blows a trumpet fashioned from the horn of a Greater Kudu. The strap is decorated with cowrie shells. Kudu-horn trumpets are only sounded to call men to arms or on ceremonial occasions

A Msai warrior, his face and body decorated with red ochre and clay, wears an ostrich feather headdress. This singular adornment was once worn by warriors going into battle

Kenya, Kajiado, lpartimaro. Two Msai warriors in full regalia. The headress of the man on the left is made from the mane of a lion while the one on the right is fringed with black ostrich feathers

One of the most important Msai ceremonies is the eunoto when warriors become junior elders. Early one morning before the cattle are taken to pasture, their mothers shave their long ochred locks

The Karo excel in body art. Before dances and ceremonial occasions, they decorate their faces and torsos elaborately using local white chalk, pulverised rock and other natural pigments

During a Jumping of the Bull ceremony.; The semi-nomadic Hamar of Southwest Ethiopia embrace an age-grade system that includes several rites of passage for young men

Karo men excel in body art. They decorate their faces and torsos elaborately using local white chalk, pulverised rock and other natural pigments

A Karo man with braided hair plays a traditional stringed instrument beside the Omo River near Duss. Young men settle disputes by fighting with hippo hide whips

Illustration, Papua New Guinean tribesman wearing headdress, his face decorated with tusks

Indian in Body Paint (litho)
XCF259781 Indian in Body Paint (litho) by White, John (fl.1570-93) (after); 26.3x15 cm; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Indian Woman of Florida (colour litho)
BAL109989 Indian Woman of Florida (colour litho) by White, John (fl.1570-93) (after); 26.1x13.5 cm; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Drawing henna on hand, New Delhi, India, Asia

Spotted Tarahumara dancers, Mexico, North America

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"Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Body Decoration: A Journey Across Cultures and Time" From the vibrant ochre-adorned faces of young Msai girls to the hauntingly beautiful Mudman from Asaro district in the Highlands, it has been an integral part of human expression throughout history. It transcends borders and continents, as seen in the enchanting Voodoo festival in Ouidah, Benin, where streets come alive with intricate designs. In Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India, a Sadhu with a Shiva trident attends the mesmerizing Haridwar Kumbh Mela. His adorned body reflects devotion and spirituality that captivates onlookers. Traveling back to 1875 up the Trombetas River reveals glimpses into ancient traditions - a Mundi Rucu girl proudly displaying her tattoos and a Mura Indian bedecked with lip ornaments. The allure extends beyond cultural boundaries; it reaches deep into history. An intriguing glimpse into this world is found through an image depicting a Hindoo Fakir from 1875 whose decorated physique tells tales untold. Delving further back in time brings us face-to-face with astonishing artifacts like pair of Earspools adorned with an eight-pointed star motif dating back to AD 1200-1400. Even warriors have left their mark on body decoration's canvas. The engraved depiction by M. Dubourg showcases New South Wales' indigenous people etching stories onto their bodies while engaging in dance rituals that connect them to ancestral spirits. As we journey closer to modern times, we witness Mr. And Mrs. Frank Burgh demonstrating tattoo artistry during America's Gilded Age in 1893 – showcasing how this form of self-expression evolved across borders yet again. Finally, amidst World War I's chaos emerges a poignant black-and-white photograph capturing a tattooed British sailor from behind.