FOULED ANCHOR ORIGIN

FOULED ANCHOR

The subject of a million and more tattoos, the fouled anchor is possibly the most iconic nautical image in the world. The insignia of a anchor entwined in rope or chain has been used for over 500years and has its origins in British naval Service traditions.

In the late 16th Century the fouled anchor was adopted as the official seal of Lord Admiral Charles Lord Howards of Effingham. It had already been used by the Lord High Admiral of Scotland a hundred years earlier. The anchor itself was used as a heraldic device in ancient British coats of arms and more recently made famous by 20century cartoon icon Popeye who’s forearms adorned ink impressions of anchors.

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