George Burchett
Encyclopedia
George 'Professor' Burchett (also styled the 'King of Tattooists') was born George Burchett-Davis on August 23, 1872, in the English
seaside town of Brighton
, East Sussex
and became one of the most famous tattoo
artist
s in the world.
Having been expelled from school at 12 for tattooing his classmates, he joined the Royal Navy
at 13, developing his skills while travelling overseas as a deckhand on the HMS Vincent. After absconding from the Navy, he returned to England, where he was trained in tattoo artistry in London
by the legendary English tattooists Tom Riley and Sutherland MacDonald.
With a studio on Mile End Road, and 72 Waterloo Road, London, Burchett became the first star tattooist and a favourite among the wealthy upper class and European royalty. Among his customers were King Alfonso XIII of Spain, King Frederick IX of Denmark
and the 'Sailor King' George V of the United Kingdom
. He also tattooed Horace Ridler
('The Great Omi').
He constantly designed new tattoos from his worldwide travel, incorporating African, Japanese and Southeast Asian motifs into his work. In the 1930s, he developed cosmetic tattooing
with such techniques as permanently darkening eyebrows.
He continued tattooing until he died suddenly on Good Friday
in 1953 at the age of 81. His autobiography
, Memoirs of a Tattooist, edited by Peter Leighton, was published in 1958 by Oldbourne Book Company and includes photographs illustrating some of his tattoo designs.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
seaside town of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
and became one of the most famous tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s in the world.
Having been expelled from school at 12 for tattooing his classmates, he joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at 13, developing his skills while travelling overseas as a deckhand on the HMS Vincent. After absconding from the Navy, he returned to England, where he was trained in tattoo artistry in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by the legendary English tattooists Tom Riley and Sutherland MacDonald.
With a studio on Mile End Road, and 72 Waterloo Road, London, Burchett became the first star tattooist and a favourite among the wealthy upper class and European royalty. Among his customers were King Alfonso XIII of Spain, King Frederick IX of Denmark
Frederick IX of Denmark
Frederick IX was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death on 14 January 1972....
and the 'Sailor King' George V of the United Kingdom
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. He also tattooed Horace Ridler
Horace Ridler
Horace Ridler was a professional freak and sideshow performer, a tattooed man exhibiting himself as The Great Omi or The Zebra Man.-Early life:...
('The Great Omi').
He constantly designed new tattoos from his worldwide travel, incorporating African, Japanese and Southeast Asian motifs into his work. In the 1930s, he developed cosmetic tattooing
Permanent makeup
Permanent makeup is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyelining and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids...
with such techniques as permanently darkening eyebrows.
He continued tattooing until he died suddenly on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
in 1953 at the age of 81. His autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, Memoirs of a Tattooist, edited by Peter Leighton, was published in 1958 by Oldbourne Book Company and includes photographs illustrating some of his tattoo designs.