British Tattoo History Museum

About the museum

The British Tattoo History Museum grew out of a private collection that Lionel Titchener began in 1975, when he opened his first professional tattoo studio in Oxford. The first items were bought from an old curiosity shop and shown in a small display case in the studio. The museum has been at 389 Cowley Road since August 1983.

Two purchases in the late 1970s formed the core of the collection. One was a box of brass tattoo machines from the retiring tattooist Vic Shipton of Romford, which included a large colour design sheet from 1904 signed by C. B. Davis of Gray’s Inn Road in London. The other was a whole collection of designs and photographs by the Burchett and Davis family. Friends of the founder sent in further items, among them small Japanese bone hand tools.

In 2002 part of the collection was lent to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich for an exhibition on the spread of tattooing. Today the collection is kept in a small room behind the tattoo studio and can be seen by appointment.

Highlights

• Brass tattoo machines from the early 20th century
• 1904 colour design sheet by C. B. Davis
• Burchett and Davis designs and photographs
• Japanese bone hand tools

Permanent exhibition

• Collection of tattooing history – Historic tattoo machines, design sheets, photographs and tools collected since 1975, shown in a small room behind the studio.

Founded

1975

Operated by

Tattoo Club of Great Britain

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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