11

(New York, ca. 1890)

"Hope" Tattoo Design by Samuel F. O'Reilly

Hand-painted tattoo flash attributed to Bowery artist Samuel F. O'Reilly (1854-1909), Chatham Square, New York City, ca. 1890. Ink and watercolor on paper. Professionally framed with UV-protective glass. Verso with exhibition labels from the Hammond Museum (2016).

Working in New York City, Samuel F. O'Reilly transformed tattooing by patenting the first electric tattoo machine in 1891, adapted from Thomas Edison's autographic printing pen. He advanced both the technical process and the art form, pioneering more cohesive full-body suits and elevating the quality of tattooing, as seen on George Karlavagn, Tom Sidonia, and George Mellivan, the first men extensively tattooed with the electric machine. O'Reilly's influence shaped an entire generation of tattooers, including Bowery figures Charlie Wagner and Lew "The Jew" Alberts, and his innovations laid the foundation for modern tattooing worldwide.

This sheet originated from a bound book of designs that was disassembled and sold page by page in the 1990s, long before its historical importance was understood. The surviving sheets rank among the earliest known examples of American tattoo flash and display many hallmarks of Samuel O'Reilly's work: fully composed scenes with background landscapes, distinctive scroll flourishes used as "fill" on his documented body suits, and a level of compositional ambition unusual for the period. Whereas most flash of the era favored simplified, stand-alone motifs, O'Reilly's integrated scenes reveal a more advanced artistic vision. Perhaps the most telling feature is his eagle, rendered in a style unique to him—a motif that recurs on his earliest tattooed attractions and even adorned the sign above his Chatham Square studio. The sheets are painted on paper watermarked "Linen Ledger 1883."

Provenance: Collection of Tom Christopher

Exhibited in "Of Pirates, Mermaids and True Love: 100 Years of Tattoo Flash," Hammond Museum, 2016
8 x 6 in. (20.3 x 15.2 cm.), Frame: 12 1/2 x 10 1/4 in. (31.8 x 26 cm.)

  • Condition: Very good condition.

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

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