The History of Origin and Meaning of the Cheshire Cat Tattoo.

The charming and fascinating story of the girl Alice's journey to Wonderland impressed not only children but also adults. The fantasy characters created by Lewis Carroll went beyond a fairy tale. One of the most vivid and memorable characters is the Cheshire Cat. He was loved for his bright personality, deep thoughts and, of course, his enchanting smile. The philosopher was so liked by the public that he began to be depicted on clothing, stationery and bodies. In this article, let's look at what the Cheshire cat tattoo meaning.
On what body part would you like to get a tattoo?

Tattoo Meaning

Tattoo Cheshire cat on the arm

The image of the Cheshire dweller is shrouded in mysticism. The character enchants with his wide smile and sweet speeches. He manages to look at the world in a new way every time, finding hidden meaning in the obvious things. Even simple phrases from the mouth of the Cheshire Cat sound mysterious and incomprehensible, and complex - easy and accessible. He is a subtle psychologist who can recognize human nature.

Where can I get a tattoo?

Today, in large cities there are a lot of tattoo parlors that provide services for tattooing on the body. At the same time not all tattoo salons offer really high quality services. Turning to the first salon caught, there is a probability that you will not be satisfied with the work that was carried out and in the future want to remove a tattoo. Therefore when choosing a salon it is recommended to make sure that the masters that work in it have experience and use only quality consumables, as well as professional tools.

How did the character appear?

cheshire cat tattoo meaning

The smiling cat is a creation of Lewis Carroll - a talented author, who created everyone's favorite fairy tale "Alice in Wonderland". However, the character was not originally in the book. Lewis added him to the story only in 1865. There are 2 versions of the origin of this character:

  • In Lewis Carroll's native county of Cheshire, there lived a painter who liked to paint members of the feline family with a wide grin on tavern doors. The local people were very familiar with these pictures, and therefore used them as an aphorism;
  • In the past, cheeses made in the county of Cheshire had come in round shapes with a crescent moon inside. This caused people to associate it with the face of an animal that was smiling.

Interesting fact! The smile of the Cheshire cat was the starting point for Erwin Schrodinger's thinking, which culminated in the discovery of the "Schrodinger cat" phenomenon.

The Prison Meaning of Fancy Tattoos: Cats vs. Dragons

"They say jokingly that a dragon is the same as a rooster, only with a crest on its back. That's the odds," says a user with the nickname TS24 on Pikabu. "The dragon is a dinosaur. He's a relative of birds. Well, and birds, of course, only roosters," suggest commentators on the Network. Dragon - the personification of heaven and freedom, the sign of goodness in Chinese mythology. But Russian convicts didn't honor dragons.

05.01.2018

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"Now in prisons they also do colored large-scale tattoos. If before the colored ones were "bastard", now you can also get red paint. But the old 'zoners' don't like that. For ordinary people, tattoos either mean nothing, or only what they put themselves," says well-known Siberian tattoo master Ivan "Yohan". - An arresting tattoo is not simple. It can't just be a rose, there will be an addition. And they are constantly changing.

"By convention" or for beauty?

In prisons, tattoos are like a passport. A prisoner's entire life history can be read on the felony tattoos, and the tattoo artist in the zone is known as a ringman or a masti-boy. The trendy artistic tattoos are applied to the skin purely for the sake of beauty. In a salon instead of a razor, a needle and ink from pens - tens thousand rubles and long hours of work of the tattoo master.

More often than not, people far from prison life don't put any meaning into tattoos. "Oh, I like the sphinx cat, I want to stuff it on myself! Most people get tattoos because they like the master's work, some sketch, like how the tattoo looks on the body. So now there are no "meanings" for the most part, except in rare cases," explains Novosibirsk art tattoo master Sasha "Bembi".

"Regalki", "partachki", "cheeky", "mess"

Modern tattoo studios are comfortable and sterile, with anesthetic ointments, relaxing music, and disposable needles. It's different in the prison backyards. "They made the machines themselves out of electric razor motors, and there was never any question of interchangeable needles. The ringmaster would just say to you, 'Come on, bro, I'm telling you, I boiled it, all's s'mores, sit down,' and hello," shares the story of a former prisoner, now a 34-year-old businessman from Krasnoyarsk. - The ringmaster armed himself with a "peshnya" (a needle in a handle), made "burnt heel" (burnt boot heel mixed with urine), and went ahead - to pierce the domes. It took us three hours of gasps, sighs and gasps. The outline was outlined. But the truth is, if Jesus had seen a temple like the one on the back of our eldest, he would have joined Taoism or would have remained an atheist.

Prison tattoos can tell you the article and the type of criminal activity and the number of convictions.

The symbols are the same, but the meanings are different.

There is no need to "explain" for a tattoo with domes, it indicates a criminal record and time served. The number of domes can show how many "walks" a person has under his belt. Most often, such a large-scale painting can be seen on the chest or back, that is, closer to the heart. Few people at liberty just out of interest will dare to depict on themselves a church with domes, but there are such.

16.02.2017 photo.

Novosibirsk rider got a tattoo of a dead dog on his chest

Cute cats, which are so fond of stuffing girls, in the criminal environment are applied by repeat offenders, serving not the first term. The abbreviation KOT stands for "native inhabitant of the prison." The cat combines pride and affection for home, and a thief's home is known to be a prison.

Beetle - a tattoo of pickpocket thieves, translates to "I wish you a good steal." Thieves apply the image of the insect between the thumb and index finger, people at large more often choose the place of permanent residence for the bug shoulder or hand.

Photo from tattoostime.com

A rose with thorns on the thigh is the stigma of an unconventional woman. A rose with thorns is a "camp kobla," satisfying the baser needs of other incarcerated women. A rose without thorns denotes that its wearer celebrated adulthood in an educational and labor colony. The Encyclopedia of Gang Tattoos provides this definition.

Masters of artistic tattoos disagree: "The rose never denoted a prostitute! It's all a myth, just like the stoker on the buttock." A tiger head on the shoulder or chest in prison denotes the cruelty and rage of its wearer. The bearers of the tattoo in prison can be "bulls", that is, those who carry out the massacre of the unwanted on the orders of the thief in law. The abbreviation stands for "prison is a toy," "you, traitor, are ready to be torn apart," or "comrades, let's go rob a restaurant.

A bear with an axe indicates the occupation of the owner - "safecracker", who specializes in safecracking. The axe may be medieval or with a depiction of the suit of clubs. A bear with an axe can also denote a place of punishment - a lumberyard. "The law is taiga, the scoop is the norm, the bear is the prosecutor," says the encyclopedia of gangster tattoos.

Musical instruments indicate nothing good in places not so far away. Wind instruments indicate a penchant for oral contact. A violin with a bow is tattooed to sitters of non-traditional orientation - a kind of "maestro". Several musical instruments denote "playing in an ensemble"-group entertainment.

Photo from ytatoo.ru

Anchors, and marine themes in general, are not uncommon in prisons, because life on the outside is associated with the free water element. The anchor is perceived by the prisoners as a hope of salvation, a symbol of a daredevil who is not afraid of danger. In addition, the anchor resembles a crucifixion, and the religious theme is very close to the prisoners, even those who have never held the Bible in their hands. But the mermaid on the anchor does not always carry a positive meaning in the zone, sometimes such a tattoo is placed on the back or chest of rapists or passive homosexuals.

Can they "ask" for an artistic tattoo?

Sasha "Bambi" knows the answer to this question: "There are several cases I know of where people with tattoos done on the outside have gone to jail and not been asked for their meanings. If it's artistic tattoos, they won't ask, but if it's specific prison tattoos that were done on the outside, before incarceration, they will definitely ask for that, for example: stars on the chest, elbows and knees, shoulder straps, then they will have to answer for that. "They can ask even in freedom," says Johan. - Basically, it's just an excuse to start a conversation and identify the victim. Today's 'brutal' boys, with watercolor reindeer on their brushes, will have to run away.

A former inmate convicted of murder agrees with the tattooists: "If we ask everyone according to the rules, we'll have to beat up every second newcomer with a dragon tattoo.

A collage by Olga Netaeva, using photos from the website nakolochka.in and from the "Tattoo Ideas" VKontakte group.

Who is suitable for a tattoo?

Cheshire Cat Tattoo Meaning for Girls

Cheshire cat - the sketch is universal, which can put on the body as a girl or a guy. This character is known all over the world, and therefore recognizable from the first seconds. Such a tattoo will immediately attract attention to the owner, and therefore it is worth doing to those who like to experience interest from the outside. Most of all, the tattoo with the Cheshire cat suits optimistic people who have a bright imagination and inquisitive mind. The drawing is found among young people engaged in creativity. The whole cat can be depicted on the body, or just his smile.

What does the Cheshire Cat tattoo mean?

The spectacular body image is often chosen by both men and women. In today's culture, it represents positivity, the ability to hold itself with dignity in every situation and the ability to disappear without a trace, if there is such a need. This symbol, above all, says about the fact that people are always cheerful and do not worry about minor matters.

At the same time, he succeeds in everything, and he tries never to get discouraged. Whatever happens in life, the man will be able to get out of the most difficult situations. Thanks to the optimistic attitude to life, the success of the owner of the tattoo always accompanies.

In addition, the famous fairy-tale cat was very fond of philosophizing. And that is why a similar body image will talk about communication skills and desire to talk on different topics.

Such a tattoo can suit cheerful, cheerful and with an active lifestyle person who can and likes to talk about different topics.

Wearable drawing depicting a well-known well-known character will be perfect for cheerful young people.

Meaning Black Cat

An animal with a black coloring, chosen for the subject of the tattoo, usually carries the meaning of hidden secrets, dark affairs of the night, magical mysteries. A black cat is often depicted against the backdrop of the moon, as it is impossible to see in the dark. As a talisman for wealth, tattoos with a black cat are done in the hope of finding a great fortune, because in ancient times in Russia it was believed that a cat with a black color helps to find an uncut ruble - a coin that always returned to the owner.

The technique of performing the Cheshire cat tattoo

People prick Cheshire in different variations, drawing the entire silhouette or just the head, choosing an interesting background, black cylinder and other attributes for the cat. This allows you to bring individualism to the image, to create your own unique image, in what helps and the choice of technique:

  • black and white is based on a detailed drawing of halftones;
  • Graphic and tribal are made in monochrome and look like a pencil sketch with clear lines;
  • minimalism is suitable for small concise drawings, which are applied on the wrist, collarbone;
  • Realism reflects the most natural play of shadows and transitions of colors, and looks appropriate to the scapula, abdomen, lower back and even the thigh;
  • watercolor with blurred edges and spotty tones looks very colorful and delicate, that's why it is popular among girls;
  • OldSchool with convex elements of pirate themes, ribbons, skulls, roses, angels is more often used on the hand;
  • NewSchool brings a touch of humor and abstraction with bright colors and bold outline designs.

When choosing a technique, it is possible to mix styles, select the image according to existing sketches. Masterfully applied tattoo will be a great body decoration for life, so it is important to approach this issue responsibly.

Other cat tattoos

In addition to the mysterious Cheshire Cat popular tattoos:

  • Based on pictures of pets.
  • Black cat. The graceful figure is most often depicted in the style of minimalism. Usually means the denial of superstitions and omens.
  • Images of Egyptian cats are Bast, Mafdet. Symbolism of power.
  • Cute kittens. Brought back memories of childhood, suitable for dreamy natures.
  • Cat paws. They symbolize mystery.
  • Picture of curved back. Hints at a strong character.
  • A stray cat. Usually images with scars on the muzzles of animals are made by men.
  • A red-haired, flouncy pet. It speaks of slowness and phlegmatic.
  • Shapeshifter cat. According to legends, the Japanese Bakeneko can turn into a human. This is a symbol of vengeance, willfulness, and a threat to offenders.

The number of options for tattoos with cats is very large, but their main meanings are usually summarized as follows:

  • beauty and grace;
  • Femininity or masculinity;

Cheshire Cat - a tattoo that can be found not so often. What can it mean? The topic is quite interesting. Therefore, it is worth to look into it.

The meaning of the cat in a hat

Tattoo, depicting only the head of a cat in a hat or completely the animal in a cylinder worn on it, indicates a permanent inseparable connection of the owner with the criminal world. These are the kind of drawings on the body make people prone to participating in robberies and assaults. The symbol-tattoo denotes caution and the ability to easily gain credibility.

The drawing of a cat's head in a hat with a wide brim and a chic feather speaks of a defiant and irresponsible character, intolerance to generally accepted moral values. Literally, such a tattoo translates as a saying: "To maintain my conscience in abundance, I have no means".

Tattoo of a cat: a sacred animal

If you remember the history, the Egyptians most worshiped cats many centuries ago. The cat was considered their symbol:

It was also paid tribute to it as a reliable guardian of the moon. In addition, if you read the "Book of the Dead," written in ancient Egypt, it appears that the cat is the true victor of evil spirits. Perhaps that is why we should not be surprised that quite often the ancient Egyptian goddesses were half portrayed as cats, note the following facts:

  • animals were valued at the value of jewels;
  • They were strictly forbidden to leave the country;
  • If someone killed an animal, he was also threatened with death.

But a little later the idealization of cats began to come to naught, and four hundred years before our era it was forbidden to worship them at all. It is interesting that cats were also considered sacred by the Thais. The Chinese and Japanese culture recognizes them as symbols of good. But in Buddhism, this animal is nothing more than a guardian of the temples. In European countries, the attitude towards cats was sometimes diametrically opposed:

  • in the Norwegians, they accompanied the goddess of beauty;
  • In other countries they were considered unclean animals in the service of witches and sorcerers;
  • A few centuries ago, Catholics generally exterminated cats and felines.

The animals were saved by the terrible plague that struck Europe seven centuries earlier. After the plague rats multiplied, and only cats could fight them! By the way, sailors have always considered the presence of a cat or a cat on the ship a sign of good luck!

If you look at the tattoo cat sketches on our website, you can see that the picture is pinned on different parts of the body. Girls and women most often choose to do this:

We suggest reading Christian tattoos for women

The smoothness of the lines, gentle outlines allow to give the owner of the drawing a special tenderness and mystery. Looking at the cat tattoo photo, you will realize that for the representative of the beautiful half of humanity a good option for the figure will be, as a monochrome and color picture, but performed in a realistic style:

  • with shadow transitions;
  • with a game of light;
  • with the drawing of literally every hair.

Who is suitable for the tattoo?

The image of the Cheshire Cat may be suitable for people who go through life with a positive attitude and with the intention to achieve everything. This, we can say, is a symbol of those individuals who know how to live with playfulness and not to worry about a trifle. No matter what happens in their life, they always get out of the situation. And also this tattoo inexplicably captivates fans of talking about everything in the world. And indeed - the Cheshire Cat was constantly having philosophical conversations. And it is interesting that he was able to do it competently.

And in general, the Cheshire Cat is often stuffed just cheerful and active people. After all, this character with just his appearance instantly cheers up and inspires optimism. The most important thing before you score a tattoo - to pick up a good sketch and competent, talented artist. The work is not easy, the specialist must be a true artist and a highly skilled craftsman to make everything technically and efficiently.

The Cheshire Cat is a well-known character from Carroll's cult fairy tale. In the fairy tale, the cat is not just a cat, but a cat of his own mind, and he also likes to philosophize and puzzle the girl Alice. His smile, which remained after his disappearances, is already a phenomenon in the culture, one of the symbols of mystery and self-sufficiency.

The tattoo of the Cheshire cat is inextricably linked to the qualities that his literary prototype had. The meaning of the Cheshire cat tattoo in the modern tattoo subculture is a symbol of positivity (the key word - smile), the ability to behave with dignity in all circumstances and the gift to disappear without a trace when circumstances require it.

Tattoo with the image of the Cheshire cat is universal: it is made by men and women, it is understandable for people of all ages and representatives of different countries. Tattoo Cheshire cat is made in color and monochrome, it all depends on the imagination of its potential owner, there is no hidden meanings.

The meaning of the Cheshire Cat tattoo - eternal positivity, the ability to live a life of playfulness. This symbol means that the person goes through life easily, he succeeds in everything, he never gets discouraged. Whatever happens in life, such a person easily and simply gets out of any situation, success never leaves him by virtue of such an optimistic attitude to life.

In addition, the Cheshire cat was constantly talking about philosophical topics. Because of this, and tattoo with it means talkativeness about everything in the world. Such a tattoo perfectly suits a cheerful, resourceful, active, able and loving to talk on any topic.

Tattoo with a Cheshire cat often cause the young guys and girls, cheerful and cheerful. One look cat is able to lift your spirits and inspire optimism. Not for nothing that tattoo fell in love with many young people.

Meaning for women

Tattoo in the form of a well-known fairy tale character is often chosen and the fair sex. For women, such a body drawing will mean:

  • Optimism
  • the ability to find a way out of any situation
  • communication skills
  • cheerfulness
  • desire to talk on various topics

Wearable image in the form of a Cheshire cat tells about the cheerful disposition of its owner. Such a lady does not like to be sad and always goes through life casually.

In addition, the possessor of such a tattoo knows how to find a way out of any situation and is very sociable. A woman with such a tattoo likes to talk on various topics.

Sometimes representatives of the fair sex do such tattoos not because of the special meaning, but because of the effectiveness of the image.

What image for a tattoo to choose?

There are many different options for tattoos in the form of a Cheshire cat. It is not uncommon for representatives of both sexes to choose the old-school technique. Such natal images are distinguished by visual convexity and colorfulness.

Good-natured, wise and unusual character, who can disappear and teleport, is known to many. Not so long ago it began to be used in tattoo art.

We will tell you what is unique about the Cheshire cat tattoo, who it will suit - as well as determine how best to depict it, in what artistic variations.

Tattoo cats for girls: stylish tattoos for girls

Interestingly, one of the options for pricking the figure on a girl's body is a "dynamic" sketch. That is, a cat with a curved back. Such a picture suggests that, despite its tenderness and even some fragility, the girl is able to withstand hardships and struggle with adversity.

Effectively and colorfully looks image of a cat's paws or even a full path formed by the traces of a cat. In this case, the tattoo cat meaning for girls is good luck in everything: both in personal life and in business. But it is necessary that the traces should be large enough - if you make them small, they will look like black dots.

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