Ornate Bronze Tattoo Needle
This is a very old and ornate handmade 3 section bronze tattoo needle with hand carved teak case and tattoo design book that was picked up during a visit to the golden triangle region. The needle head is decorated with an exquisite Nat Angel design. The Nats were worshiped in some regions of Southeast Asia before the advent of Buddhism and are still worshiped in conjunction with Buddhism by some individuals today. This is not a reproduction. It is an authentic tattoo needle that was previously used.
Case is made of teak wood, Tattoo Needle is bronze. Book has a copper case.
- Object: Ornate Bronze Tattoo Needle
- Artist: -
- Circa: 1930
- Dimensions: Case: 9"x4"x4" Needle: 14" long
- Culture Area: Asia Southeast
- Cultural Group: the Golden Triangle Region
- Cultural Context: 118.019 The art of tattooing in Southeast Asia especially in Myanmar (Burma), encompasses ritual as well as decoration. This traditional tattoo kit was picked up during a visit to the Golden Triangle region. The set consists of a detailed carved box made of teakwood, a folded tattoo template with traditional religious symbols and characters, and the needle. The hand-forged bronze tattoo needle consists of three parts that are screwed into each other and features a “Nat” spirit sitting above, this spirit is responsible for the success of effective and protective tattoos. Nat’s are spirits that can guard and protect, therefore the tattoos were seen as a sort of talisman. Nat worship is one of the oldest belief systems of the Burmese people along with Buddhism. Tattoos were often used as spiritual protection, signs of social status, and antidotes to ward off disease. This tattoo process is an especially painful procedure and traditionally required the extensive use of opium used as a painkiller. Completion of the tattoos took from three to six days.
- Donor: IELM fund
- Catalog #: 118.019