What are the different styles of Polynesian tattoos?
Polynesian tattoo styles: what is the difference between Maori, Marquesan, Samoan, and Tahitian tattoo styles?
There are different styles of Polynesian tattoos but,what is the difference between these styles? I’m going to tell you, in a simple way, with some examples of custom tattoo designs created by me, the basic differences between these different styles of Polynesian tattoos.
TABLE of CONTENTS
MARQUESAN TATTOO STYLE
This is the most popular Polynesian tattoos and the most requested tattoo style by visitors/clients of this web. A very popular tattoo style due to the famous wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Marquesan Tattoo Design Samples
This is a photo sent by a client of JunoTattooDesigns.com with his custom tattoo in Marquesan style. I’ve added classic Polynesian symbols of wisdom, eternal life, spearheads, shark teeth plus some personal designs to tell us his personal story.
Typical tattoo design in Marquesan style
What symbols we can use to create a Marquesan tattoo?
In a Polynesian tattoo we can add symbols of wisdom, family, marriage, protection, eternal life, strength and much more. And non-Polynesian designs too. In this tattoo, the client wanted, in addition to these classic Polynesian symbols, an owl on the upper part of the shoulder, representing wisdom.
Tattoo design in Marquesan style with non-Polynesian symbols
Custom shoulder tattoo design with the addition of some designs that represent this client: the American flag, a date, and footbal ball, all in tribal styles to match with this Marquesan style
Marquesan Tattoo Design with Batman symbol
Custom Marquesan tattoo design with TV shows and movie logos
Custom Marquesan tattoo with Star Wars, Dr Who, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Avengers, and other personal designs
Samoan Tattoo Style
Samoan tattoos tend to be geometric, created with straight lines, strips of designs. Shark teeth, ocean waves, spearheads, stones, bird symbols and triangles can be found in this style of Polynesian tattoos.
Samoan Tattoo Design Samples
FOREARM TATTOO IN SAMOAN STYLE
Custom shoulder Samoan tattoo design
Samoan calf tattoo design with Shark
Samoan tattoos typically lack recognizable designs like tiki faces, animals, or flowers, but if the client wishes, we can include recognizable tribal-style designs that represent each client.
Because it is ancestrally made with flat tools, straight lines and geometric designs abound. In this video you can see how they are made with the ancestral Samoan technique.
SAMOAN SLEEVE TATTOO DESIGN
Tim Cahill’s tattoos
Tim Cahill’s tattoos: other famous tattoos in Samoan style
The Samoan tattoos of Tim Cahill, football player from Australia, are very popular too.
I’ve created many tattoos in this Samoan style. This is a custom tattoo in this Cahill style for a 3/4 sleeve tattoo.
Roman Reigns Tattoos
Custom Samoan tattoo design based on the style of the American football player Roman Reigns
Custom Samoan Tattoo Design for half back based in this same style
Custom Samoan Tattoo Design for sleeve based in the Reign’s style
Maori Tattoo Style
Tattoos created by fine lines, curved shapes and spirals. It is also a “light” tattoo style, with no solid black areas. This is a forearm tattoocreated Online by me, inPolynesian Maoristyle, for a visitor of this web, according their wishes.
Hawaiian Tahitian Tattoo Style
In these Polynesian styles we can see clear lines, recognizable and rounded figures. In this tattoo: a couple oftiki faces, animals liketurtles,sharks, stingray; symbols like marquesan crosses and geckos…all designed by thin and curved lines, without solid black areas.
Tahitian Tattoo Design Sample
This is a sample of a tattoo in Tahitian style created ONLINE for a visitor of this web with a Honu (family symbol) as main design for the shoulder, a dolphin, manta ray, surrounded by spearheads, turtle shell symbols and Tahitian designs.
Tahitian Armand Tattoo Design
Armband tattoo for shoulder with tiki faces and Polynesian turtle.
Polynesian / Aztec Tattoo Design
All the tribal tattoos can be combined. This is a custom tattoo in Aztec/Polynesian style: Polynesian designs with ancient Mexican designs (Aztec), like a warrior skull as main design for the outer forearm.
READY TO TELL YOUR OWN STORY IN A POLYNESIAN TATTOO?
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
Stuart Graham – Polynesian sleeve tattoo design
“Can highly recommend Juno amazing work completed very quickly to a excellent level and quality will be using him again in the future”
*****
Nick – Samoan shoulder tattoo design
“Great artist! Juno has done a wonderful job , I love my tattoo!. Highly recommended!”