Vintage Circus and Tattoos

Early tattooed – ‘painted’ – women were publicly seen in the Circus

The circus as we know it started in the later part of the 18th century, in 1768, but one of the earliest tattooed women was shown in 1907 she is in the gallery below. The name tatau is actually form the Tahitian language and was a result of James Cook’s expeditions there.  Tattooing became very popular in the early 19th century. Initially it was mainly sailors and the criminal class but by the later half of the 19th century it was also popular in the aristocratic and upper classes in Britain and across most of Europe.

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1956 Carol Reed Film Trapeze

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vintage circus postcard

Fern Andra

Folies Bergere-1909

Mrs. M. Stevens Wagner, one of the earliest Tattooed Ladies that performed in the circus sideshows as a freak, 1907

Madame Alina Forlani

Nude woman in aquatic costume of pearls. Photographed by Lucien Walery c. 1920

Painted Lady

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Thora and Nellie joking with clown, Travelling Circus, c.1918

Vintage Photo – Circus 1933

vintage tattoo lady