65

(America, ca. 1925)

Happy Hooligan and Other Tattoo Designs by "Sailor" Hughie Bowen

Hand-painted tattoo flash by Hugh Bowen (1894-1970), aka "Sailor Hughie," America, ca. 1925. Featuring traditional designs alongside popular cartoon figures, including Happy Hooligan. Ink and watercolor on board. Professionally framed with UV-protective glass.

Hughie Bowen worked as a tattooed attraction and artist in Michigan, Long Beach, and other locations, but spent most of his career in San Diego, where his wife, "Painless" Nell, operated several tattoo shops. Around 1919, Detroit tattooer Percy Waters famously tattooed Bowen's head with an image of Christ.

Provenance: Collection of Tom Christopher
9 3/4 x 13 3/4 in. (24.8 x 34.9 cm.), Frame: 15 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. (39.4 x 49.5 cm.)

  • Condition: Overall very good condition with wear appropriate for its age and use. Pinholes and trimmed corners visible in photos.

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Items can be picked up in person by appointment only at our gallery at 33 Jewell Court in Portsmouth, NH. Please contact us at least 24 hours in advance of pickup. *All first-time buyers that wish to pick items up in person must pay with cash.

November 9, 2025 12:00 PM EST
Portsmouth, NH, US

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