Burmese Tattoo Sticks

Antique Tattoo “Needle”

Used in the ritual “right of passage” of teenage Shan boys in Northern Burma, Laos and neighbouring regions of Thailand and China, these brass-tipped sticks, usually topped with a divine figure, are applied by a monk or doctor to tattoo and inject magical ingredients into the designs.

The dense patterns are both decorative and symbolic and extend fully from waist to knees; if necessary, opium if used to bear the pain of the extensive procedure.  However, a woman would not consider a man ready for marriage until he has his “pants tattoo”.

A few examples available     25-35cms tall

Each with a bespoke display stand