I found the pictures to be great as I was looking to find out more about tribal designs from many cultures. I was served well with pictures, but not so well with explanations of what the tattoo was, what it meant, which class would wear it in society, how it was applied, the history behind the tradition, etc.

I am using the book as a reference and find that it only becomes great with supporting articles. I had done extensive reading on tribal traditions from around the world and found that this book served well as a companion to these and other articles, but not as a stand alone book. Without the history behind the pictures, you loose the whole meaning.

I strongly recommed this book, be it as a source book or simply for a tattoo enthusiaste. However, I would urge everyone to supplement this book with further readings on the matter.


An Excellent Cross-Cultural Reference of Tattoos   August 17, 2000
 22 out of 24 found this review helpful

This is an excellent book for those looking for indigenous art and original "root" design. It addresses body art from a large spectrum of social groups and all continents. The illustrations are very clear and detailed, and it is well organized to allow you to follow the evolution of a design as it jumps from country to country, culture to culture. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to find a particular tattoo design, either for personal use or simple research.


An Academic Look at Tribal Tattooing   May 10, 2000
 24 out of 25 found this review helpful

Maarten Hesselt van Dinter's "Tribal Tattoo Designs" focuses on the cross-cultural history of tattooing, tattooing technology, and commonly expressed motifs. Also examined are societies where tattooing holds a powerful impact in recent history, where and how this custom is practiced, and its significance as a form of human transition and metamorphosis. Extensive research is given to tribal designs, which often were abstract images based on local objects encountered in the environment, such as animals and landmarks. The artwork in "Tribal Tattoo Designs" is extensively detailed, of an academic nature, and should be on the bookshelf of all anthropologists.