50 Inspiring Lock and Key Tattoos

Tattooing has moved beyond the sheer tribal mark, or a gang stamp. Today, it’s a recognized form of art, while tattoo artists are talented as fine art creatives, often coming from the world of painting themselves.

Leaving their signature on living bodies of people, these artists strive to build their own style, while reflecting the innermost feelings and ideas of their clients, who generally choose tattoos that mirror their personalities.

Symbolism is the core of tattoo art, and while some symbols are unique and personal, some tattoos are created on the common grounds, bearing a universal meaning. Lock and key tattoos are one of these ink images, one of the most popular selections of the tattooed, universal enough, but always rendered in a profoundly personal manner. They are signs of secrets, mystery, unknown relationships or reservations towards the world, in general.

Tracking the lock and key tattoo imagery a century back, one finds they first emerged, just like a majority of modern ink, with sailors and social outcasts. As the skin art was getting accepted, more and more people from all spheres of society are inked up, while lock or keys have a prominent place on their bodies. The style chosen to executed lock and key tattoos is usually classical, colored in traditional, bright hues, reminiscent of the mid-20th century. Often detailed and intricately decorated, these tattoos can be enriched by flowers, jewels, clocks to insinuate passage of time, significant animals, or, on the opposite side, done in a very simple, minimalist way, signifying only outlines of the keyhole or a key.

Most frequently, lock and key tattoos are related to the subject of love, implying the key to somebody’s heart emotion. Hence, locks are very often heart-shaped, while keys can be adorned with names or objects related to the beloved one. Being decorative by themselves, both key and lock allow for a lot of freedom, where the imagination of the tattooed person and the artist can both be wonderfully expressed.

If a couple decides to get tattooed in celebration of their love, lock and key can be chosen, where each of them wears one piece of the pair, or one lock and a key corresponding to the lock of their partner, and vice versa, frequently worn on the same part of the body. Lock and key are therefore symbols of strong and unique relationship, where two people perfectly fit together.

Some of the popular designs for the lock and key tattoos are skeleton images. They evoke the old times, the mysterious things kept away in cellars and attics, in secret chests, pirates and hidden treasures, while simultaneously delivering the bearer’s personal idea. Skeleton imagery is rarely done alone, usually accompanied with other decorative ink elements.

Greater symbolism of lock and key tattoos might imply end of an old life, locked away, and separation from one’s past, besides the intimacy allusions they can contain. Possibilities of executing and interpreting lock and key tattoos are many, while as any of the ink embellishments people carry, they are definitely a fantastic conversation starter.

Lock And Key Tattoo for Women

Lock and key and filigree

under lock and key

Tiny rose, lock, and key by Half Bicycle Tattoo

Lock And Key Tattoo

Lock And Key Tattoo on Sleeve

Anklet with heart lock and key freehand tattoo

New school roses, skulls, lock, key and vines tattoo

Key foot tattoo

The key laid down on the foot of the wearer with the ability to open her heart. Who’s going to pick it up?

Lock and key tattoo on back

Watercolor love key tattoo

Lock and key tattoo

Lock and key half sleeve tattoo

Key tattoo

Lock and key wrist tattoo

Tiny lock tattoo

Tiny lock

Lock and Key

Lock and Key Tattoo

Heart locker tattoo

Heart locker

lock and key match tattoo

I hear they fit together

lock and key match tattoo

lock and key match tattoo

Heart padlock, chain, and key w name tattoo

Gorgeous lock and key pendant tattoo

3D Lock and Key tattoo

Lock and key tattoo for men

Lock and key tattoo on neck

Skeleton Key tattoo

Lock and key forearm tattoo

red rose key n heart lock tattoo on back

Best Friends Lock Key Tattoo Designs

Lock and key tattoo on finger

Skeleton Key And Heart Lock Tattoo

Lock and key tattoo

lock n key tattoo

Lock and key tattoo on chest

Lock and key tattoo on side

Roses…jeweled lock and key …feather tattoo

Lock and key tattoo on foot

Lock and key tattoos

Lock and key tattoos

Lock and key tattoos on leg

Lock and key tattoos behind the ear

Lock and key tattoo on back for girl

Heart Lock and Key leg tattoo

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One Comment

  1. s tribal tattoo would tell stories of honor and courage to appease their gods and
    let them know that they were held in the highest respect.
    There are also sites that provide a custom tattoo maker in which you choose your own design and combine it with other designs.
    During this time, tattoos were very expensive and people
    paid large sums for their designs.

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