Traditional Swallow Tattoo

The swallow is one of the oldest sailor tattoos. According to sailor lore, a swallow marked 5,000 nautical miles at sea, and swallows were also taken as a sign of a safe return home because they migrate long distances and come back every year. A well-known legend says swallows carry the soul of a drowned sailor to heaven.

Today the swallow is worn for loyalty, freedom, love and coming home. A pair of swallows, one on each side of the chest or on each shoulder, is the classic arrangement. Paired with an anchor it keeps the nautical meaning; with a heart or rose it becomes a love symbol. As with most traditional tattoos, the meaning varies from wearer to wearer.

• Swallow pair — two swallows facing each other, the classic chest or shoulder arrangement.
• Single swallow — one swallow in flight with wings swept back; simple and easy to place.
• Swallow with banner — room for a name, a date or a word lettered by your artist.
• Swallow and anchor — the swallow perched on an anchor and rope, a nautical classic.
• Swallow and heart — a swallow carrying a heart, for love and homecoming.
• Swallow and rose — a swallow flying above a rose.
• Black and grey swallow — the same bold outlines with grey shading instead of color.

Swallows are most often worn in pairs on the chest or shoulders, but they also work well on the forearm, collarbone, ribs, hand and neck. The long wings and tail need room to read, so keep the feathers bold and the tail simple — very small swallows can blur together as the tattoo ages.

When you bring a flash design to your artist, they will adjust the size and composition to fit your body and redraw the stencil. That is normal and part of the craft.