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Tattooing has always been a common custom on the island of Borneo.
Wooden pattern blocks, like this one, were smeared with black ink
and then pressed upon the skin to provide the tattooist with a template
to follow. Such pattern blocks were always carved by men. However,
it was the women who were considered experts on the significance
and quality of the tattoo designs. Tattooing was only ever performed
by them.
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database record 1923.86.386
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