Research Paper On Shinnors

Shinnors’ female figure also sports tattoos, one of a flower and one of a swallow (Fig 2-34) (or perhaps this is vandalism and crude graffiti, as she may not actually be a ‘live’ figure, as will be explained later). When applied to a figure as a tattoo, Shinnors’ swallow motif inherits a very different significance to that of its normal application, a static symbolism originating in the traditions of British sailors. A single swallow tattoo signified the completion of 5000 nautical miles of voyaging, but also indicated that the individual’s journey was incomplete until it was joined on the opposite side of the body by an identical but mirrored version which signified the end of their endeavour (Maritime Museum of British Columbia).