Always a special day of remembrance for me, October 7th, Lyle’s birthday- full of magic and memories and reverence for him. I hope there’s carrot cake and tequila grapefruit in large plastic cups out there in the cosmos for you Lyle, today and every day you are loved and missed so very much. 💜🥳
This is always a tough day for me and I know Lyle is in the thoughts of so many of you today too. Emotions well up to think of the time when Lyle was still with us in body- traveling, sharing, teaching, and inspiring. But his soul and spirit are always present- far beyond even his tremendous contributions to tattooing. Think of all of his life force, his creativity, his charm, his inspiring and dependable friendship. His humor. “Bingo.” I miss you Lyle, Wingnut.
#lyletuttle #lyletuttlecollection #icon #tattooing #tattoo #creativegenius #friend #gonebutneverforgotten #tattooer #friscoflyer #libra #sixyears
Brighton, 1872. A boy named George Burchett-Davis is born the eldest of 11 kids. By age 12, he’s already obsessed with ink. So obsessed that his school expels him for tattooing other students. 😳
His response? Join the Royal Navy at 13.
While other sailors were getting drunk in ports, George was studying tattoo masters around the world Japanese legends in Yokohama, African artists, Southeast Asian designs. He was building his style with every stop.
Then he did something WILD: he deserted the Navy in Jaffa, Israel. Set up a secret tattoo shop in Jerusalem. When authorities got close, he jumped on a Spanish merchant ship and disappeared for 12 years.
In 1896, he finally returned to London but as a different man. He dropped “Davis” from his name to avoid getting caught. Set up shop as a *cobbler* on Mile End Road. Tattooed people in the back room between fixing shoes.
By 1900, the secret was out. He opened his first real studio. By the 1920s, royalty was sitting in his chair. He moved to Waterloo Road and built an empire.
He tried to retire at 70.
WWII said no. Soldiers flooded his shop, and George came back to work alongside his sons. He tattooed until Good Friday, 1953 dying suddenly at 81 with a needle never far from his hand.
From expelled schoolboy → naval deserter → cobbler → KING OF TATTOOISTS. 👑
Some legends aren’t born. They’re inked into existence. 🖤
#TattooHistory #GeorgeBurchett #KingOfTattoos #VintageTattoo #TattooLegend TattooStory InkMaster TattooArtist TattooCulture LondonTattoo
Found some great vintage cards in a sorting project- DM to purchase- any cards with imperfections will be priced kindly 🎯
#tattoohistory #tattooing #vintagetattoo #tattoodesign #collectors
Trad moth on a cutie bootie… AND right next to an original @lyle.tuttle tattoo, what!!??
Project piece, started by covering up this cross that’s part of a praying hands with a rosary, can’t wait to add more! Thank you for the trust @zinzigugu
Here is something you don't see often, three acetate tattoo stencils made and signed by tattooer Lyle Tuttle in the early 1970s. Around 2011 I visited Lyle at his house and slept on his couch for a few days. We dug through his collection and he showed me all kinds of amazing tattoo artifacts. At that time he was nearly 80 years old and was still just as excited about all the things in his collection as he probably ever was. If I ever had a piece of antique Tattoo Flash and I wasn't sure who made it I could send him a picture and seems like nearly every time he knew the answer to who made it right away. Lyle lived and breathed Tattoo history and was and still is a major influence to nearly everybody collecting and preserving tattoo memorabilia today. Really happy that I got to know him and could call him a friend.
“Hey kiddo, I’d like to treat you to dinner tonight. How about Chinese?“ I can hear the invite as if it was yesterday, and as time passes since Lyle left this earth, 7 years ago today, his voice, stories, and unbelievable charming intelligence remain ever present in my head and heart. Unforgettable and everlasting. ✨💜✨
#lyletuttle #icon #tattoo #friend
6 years ago today we celebrated Lyle’s 70th Retrospective at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts. To the dirty dozen plus work crew that helped make it happen inside of 3 days I’m forever in your debt. Lyle couldn’t have been prouder and neither could I. To all his friends and fans who flew in from many continents and countries, near and far, that meant the world to Lyle. I never was so resigned and inspired to create something as I was to make that weekend happen for LT. The world is in a much crazier place now but we still proved that community, love of tattooing, the arts, and above all a deep immeasurable appreciation for Lyle’s legacy could bring us together in an unforgettable way.
#lyletuttle #lyletuttlecollection #70th #retrospective #tattoohistory #arthistory #sanfrancisco #icon #tattooed #tattooing #legend #friscoflyer #2018 #community #friends
Andrew’s father passed away recently.
I’ve had the honor of starting this memorial sleeve for him.
His dad was a veteran and when he saw that I ordered this book “Uncommon Valor” by the late great @lyle.tuttle he was really drawn to these classic American traditional designs that reminded him of his father.
He picked these out himself right out of the book and now that we have done all the ones he picked over these last few months we went back through the book yesterday and found more we are going to add!
This has become a collection of really cool flash you don’t see everyday anymore. Some healed, some partially healed and some fresh.
Appreciate you letting me do this for you Andrew!
I look forward to the next session 🫡
