I had been thinking more along the lines of a bench inspired tattoo
also. I personally would want a less pictoral/literal tattoo than
most of the ones suggested so far. I’d be wanting something more
abstract and something pos sibly recognisable by someone in the
trade but not by someone who wasn’t. And so… I am thinking… what
about a simple bold outline of the shape of the curve and benchpeg of
a jewellers bench? I’d have it so that the par t where the peg meets
the bench was uppermost. I think it would look very c ool and funky.
And if you didnt feel it recognisable enough you could have a
piercing saw frame put in the recess so that it was framed by the
curve of the bench. I guess it depends on what kind of tattoo you
wish to adorn your body with … but that’d be my choice! If my
description doesnt make sense contact me offline and I’ll send you a
sketch. Although, I loved the idea of a makers mark with parents
initials in it asw ell.
Goo- My husband /goldsmith has tattooed for nearly thirty years. I’ve
worked as a shop girl in a busy tattoo street shop. Some of the
lovliest tats I’ve seen are from the client’s beloved art/vocation.
Not so many work tats from bank tellers.
With all due respect and ALL tongue in cheek, but here are my
suggestions:
A tattoo on the forehead that says: Jeweler.
A tattoo on the biceps of a hammer that when you flex your muscle
bangs against another tattoo of an anvil.
A tattoo of a drill bit sticking out of your finger (on the
finger would be good but a hand with it in it would be ok too).
A tattoo on your eyelids of a diamond shape (preferably one ideal
cut and the other not so your customers could see the difference) so
that when you winked there would be a “sparkle”.
A tattoo starting at your shoulder of a flexible shaft with the
shaft running down your arm and ending in a handpiece on your hand.
A tattoo of a drawplate across your chest with holes where your
nipples are.
There is a cult of Japanese people who attempt to tattoo their
entire bodies (yes their entire bodies—and who eventually die from
it as they effectively kill all of their sweat glands by doing it).
Join the cult and have a torch head tattooed where your privates are
with the privates being the tip of the torch and flames at the end.
I could probably think of a few more but I’ve probably grossed you
all out already.
Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC
1780 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
I’m surprised no one has brought up the discussion about the safety
of wondering the world with a goldsmiths mark visible. If it’s a way
to be identified by goldsmiths who might otherwise pass you by in a
crowd, couldn’t one then assume that you might also be identified by
people who like to target goldsmiths? We are all warned how not to
draw attention to ourselves when traveling with goods…with a tattoo
announcing your trade you could become a target even when you’re NOT
carrying goods. The tattoo may be a mark of pride, but it can also
make you a MARK. Just a thought.
Goo - I think a tatoo needs to have meaning for the person since it
is personal adornment that is worn for life. I don’t have my tatoos
dealing with my profession, rather I have them dealing with my life
my beliefs and sources of inner strength. I don’t see any reason
not to have tatoos celebrating my profession, I just think that
people tend to change professions several times in their lives and
that professions are often more transitory than life experiences or
personal belief systems.
BBR - Sandi Graves
Stormcloud Trading Co (Beadstorm)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
As an old hippie, I have had thoughts that the children of people who
have Tattoos will have body parts relocated to different places, ear
on the forehead. Any other thoughts of how they will indicate
generational divide?
Any other thoughts of how they will indicate generational divide?
Well there are already people having inserts put under their skin to
change their looks. That’s one possibility. But personally I’m
waiting for the time (and even though I’m pretty old now I’d do this
in a flash) when there will be jacks directly in our heads to plug
into the web with so that we can experience the full flow of the data
stream all the time. I think I may read too much science fiction, but
if it should happen in my lifetime, I’ll be right there. Just think
about what kind of creations we could come up with when we have a
constant stream of images and ideas flowing nonstop through our
brains! Of course we might have to be a little careful working around
the torch with that much stuff going on!
Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC
1780 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
I have a baseball hat that says GOLDSMITH. It wasn’t until this
thread that I realized how much a part of me “goldsmith” is! When
someone asks what I do, I always say I’m a goldsmith… I never say
I’m a gemologist or even that I own my own jewelry store…I’m a
goldsmith. Maybe I just happen to be employed doing something I
love. No tatoos, though. Something about imagining tatoos stretching
on aging skin (Years from now, mind you) makes me think I’d regret it
later.
Sorry, but that's an urban myth. My husband and many folks I know
have full body tattoos, and nobody has died.
So I just went to your web site and if the gentleman (very handsome I
might add) pictured is your husband then he does not have what this
particular Japanese cult considers a full body tattoo. They have
100% of their skin tattooed which includes their entire head, all of
their genitals, etc. It is usually done over a relatively long period
of time. I am going to do a little more research on the issue of the
sweat, but it is my understanding that tattoos do impact the ability
of the body to sweat where the tattoos have actually been done and
that when all (and by this I mean 100%) of your skin is covered that
it does impact the ability of the body to sweat. However, if after
some research (I know a few doctors I’m going to talk to) I’m unable
to find proof I will repost on this on Orchid. But again, to qualify
for the full body tattoo, he would have to have his face and head
covered too and unless you’ve doctored his picture quite a bit, that
certainly isn’t apparent.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC
1780 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
As an old hippie, I have had thoughts that the children of people
who have Tattoos will have body parts relocated to different
places... Any other thoughts... ?
Yep, you can expect that within our lifetimes, people will opt for
genetic mutation to aquire things like fangs, fur, cat-eyes, tails,
etc. The good news is, we will see the invention of all kinds of new
jewelry to adorn these details.
I 've been thinking about the goldsmiths tattoo topic since it
started.
I don’t have a tattoo myself. I have often thought of getting one
for any number of reasons. I guess that’s why this topic seems so
interesting to me.
Out of anything I’ve heard so far I would probably choose a tool,
because I do love my tools…
But, the religious Icon, like one of the saints suggested so far is
also very interesting and cool. In the fact, that I feel you do
share some spiritual / personal bond with something you make or
create, shape or teach to serve your purposes or it’s own (be it,
animal, vegetable or mineral). LOL!!! But I am not a saint…
I like the chasing hammer too. It seems like the most popular and
sensible tool so far. Very phallic…
But what about a silhouette of a crucible? (something simple, like
the handheld kind…Rio #704-032)
It seems like a lot of the magic happens right there in that little
bowl. We create the different mediums here by placing specific
elements in this special little bowl, in precise proportions, heating
them to a specific temperature and pouring it out into specific
shapes to serve our purposes.
Taking a solid elements turning them into a liquid and turning it
back into a solid in a different form and or chemical
composition…That is magic to me.
If I get a goldsmith / metal-smith tattoo I think the crucible is it
for me…
Anyway, My 2c…
Hope we get to here the decision.
Aaron
