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July 16, 2013

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Previous article BORNEO’S TATTOOED WOMEN ‘WARRIORS’ – WEAVERS OF THE SKRANG IBAN

larskrutak

Documenting the History of Tattoo one Mark at a Time
Tattoo Anthropologist / Author / Curator

Lars Krutak
TATTOOED BODIES is HERE!! Fresh off the 2022 Press TATTOOED BODIES is HERE!! Fresh off the 2022 Press! #tattooed #tattooedbody #writing #communication #arthistory #anthropology #tattooanthropology #inked #tattoo #tattoos #tats #tat #heritage #history #literature #body #theory #lacan #visualart #visual #inscription #icon #press #publication #fresh @palgravemacmillan #theory #semiotics @jamesmarteau #derrida #deleuze
Catching up w/ college buddies in Baltimore this w Catching up w/ college buddies in Baltimore this weekend which brings me back to 2002 when I penned one of my first of many articles for Skin & Ink Magazine @skinandinkmag on the @baltimoretattoomuseum under the incredible editor (and friend) Bob Baxter @baxterstattooroadtrip. Back in those days you’d turn the pages of S&I and learn about legendary artists, Indigenous tattoo traditions, and the history of the craft, which was constantly evolving. This issue (September 2002) will always remain a favorite and happy to see the Museum is still there in Fells Point @fellspointdistrict @ corner of Eastern & S. Bond…drop by if you’re in the neighborhood! #tattoohistory #baltimoretattoomuseum #baltimore #tats #tattoo #inked #leutattoofamily #tattoomuseum #craft #crafting @leufamilyart @abinniepaperandskin @nationalbohemianbeer
Thank you @nature_the_journal for sharing my resea Thank you @nature_the_journal for sharing my research and our project @patterns.of.life.documentary🖖 #tattoos #inked #nagaland #myanmar #tiger #tribaltattoo #handtapped #tats #konyak #blackwork #heritage #history #culturalheritage #asia #asiantattoo #nature #documentaryphotography #film #ancienttattoo
As noted, male Iban tattooing is closely related t As noted, male Iban tattooing is closely related to the concept of bejalai, or journey abroad. Iban customary law (adat) prescribed that men could only be tattooed on bejalai. Throughout history, Iban men traveled far & wide in search of products for trade, to meet their enemies, to visit relatives, etc. To commemorate these trips, they often acquired body tattoos (pantang). *If a man was a warrior, he could acquire special tattoos on his fingers & hands (tegulun) to signal success in headhunting. Among Batang Lupar Iban, Dutch physician Hendrik Tillema stated that men who took two+ heads could be tattooed on their right hand. If a man had captured seven or more he could tattoo both hands. However, if a man received tegulun but did not take the required number of heads he risked “the vengeance of the gods.” Iban scholar Benedict Sandin wrote: “If [you] tattoo the back of your hand before you have killed an enemy in war…you shall become layu, gradually ill & may eventually die before your time.” *Sometimes glossed as “flowers of the hand” (bunga tungan), several motifs, many of which have not been defined, composed the overall design incl. kala / scorpion (base of thumb), antu pala / trophy heads (back of hand), buah klauh / creeper fruit (back of hand), anthropomorphs (mid-digits). Some of these motifs were apotropaic. I was told by Skrang combat veteran Itan of Rum. Entalau (see previous post) that a scorpion on the thumb signified a captive had been taken during battle. *As noted 4/8/20, both hands of Baleh Iban war leader Temonggong Koh (1870-1956) contained tegulun & it is said he took 90+ enemy heads during his lifetime. *Foto #1: Tegulun © Hedda Morrison *Illus. #2-4 (Drawings Monica Freeman): Bunga tungan, “flowers of the hand,” of Remong of Rumah Jenggut, lower Baleh River (Sarawak) > A scorpion motif (kala) marks the base of his thumb. #3. Tegulun of “Abang,” Sungai Tiau, Rumah Tunku. #4. Tegulun of Penghulu Koh (left hand). #iban #inked #blackwork #blackworktattoo #tribaltattoo #sarawak #borneo #tats #tattoos #tattoo #asia #asiatattoo #warrior #flowers #handtattoo #hand #handmade #scorpion #adat #malaysia #malaya
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