The tattoo artist will see you now m'lady...

  

Looking at the photograph of Queen Michelle's wonderful new tatoo, I was struck by the juxtaposition of the old world romance of the new rose and the existing contemporary geometric shape.

Which then brought to mind the glorious tatooed lady ceramics of  Jessica Harrison

Born in St Bees in 1982, Jessica moved to Scotland to study sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art in 2000, going on to do an MFA before completing a practice-led PhD in sculpture in 2013 funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. 

For her latest work she has created a further series of Victorian-style porcelain figurines that she has augmented with tattoos. The figurines are on display at “Flash,” her solo exhibition at Galerie LJ in Paris through June 24, 2014. 

I can't help but wonder if these are Doulton ladies that she has repurposed with sailor tatoos.

Having grown up with china ornaments of all kinds on every available surgace it's a miracle that neither my mum or my gran had a weakness for these kind of ladies.

If my gran had seen the tattooed ladies she might have changed her mind. But it's pretty safe to say she would have run a mile from Harrisons earlier macabre figures, like this poor little lady below who has done herself a damage with her own fan. I'll need to be much more careful with mine in future...

Queen Marie

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