Human skin, tattooed with naval badge, French, 1850-1900. Tattoo - military insignia with anchor and two axes. Inscription reads '7S'. Clear linework, very fine, poorly executed in some places with beading, but indicative of machine application, which would suggest that the tattoo was applied not earlier than around 1890. Colouring/shading especially poor, patchy, small needle grouping perhaps used to shade as well as line, evidence of circular shading technique, though not resulting in solid application of ink. Skin - Cream-yellow colour, white residue on surface which appears chalky. Rougly circular sample, thin cross-section.

Human skin, tattooed with naval badge, French, 1850-1900. The design of the tattoo is an insignia with anchor, two cannons and two halberds or axes. Inscription reads '7S'. The tattoo was probably applied by machine, not earlier than c. 1890.