Inked Mag Staff
August 2nd, 2022
75 Badass Lighter Tattoos
Put your lighters up!
Fire is one of man’s most powerful tools. Fire allowed early humans to cook their food and survive difficult climates. And ever since it was first discovered, we’ve been trying to find ways of harnessing it. For centuries, candles were used to physically and metaphorically light the way, then in 1823 the lighter came along. The first lighter was made as part of a lamp by German chemist Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner. In 1903, ferrocerium was developed by Austrian scientist Carl Auer von Welsbach, which aided in the invention of the modern lighter. Ferrocerium was often misidentified as a flint, but it helped companies to develop inexpensive, practical and easy to use lighters for mass consumption. Explore the fascinating evolution of lighters and stunning lighter tattoos in our gallery below.
The first permanent match style lighter, named the Wonderlite, was invented in 1913 by New Jersey based company Ronson. The Zippo lighter was created by American inventor George Grant Blaisdell in 1932, who founded the company in the same year. Soon after, Zippos began gaining popularity, as they were more reliable, had a life-time warranty and were marketed as being wind-proof. At the time, Zippos were fueled by naphtha, a flammable liquid hyrocarbon mixture, however, during the 1950s they switched over to butane as it provided a more controlled flame and emitted less odor.
These days, approximately 70,000 Zippo lighters are made every single day out of their Bradford, Pennsylvania facility. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, with many professional artists collaborating with the brand. In recent years, there have also been plenty of incredible lighter tattoos created throughout the years. Take a look at 75 badass lighter tattoos from talented artists in the gallery below, then let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments section on social media.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Editor's Picks
Bridging Classical Art and Modern Tattooing
Esteban Rodriguez brings the discipline of classical fine art to the living canvas of skin, creating hyper-realistic tattoos that merge technical mastery with emotional depth.
Show Your Ink Fashions Brings Custom Style to Tattoo Culture
Show Your Ink Fashions creates custom shirts designed to showcase your tattoos as wearable art, blending fashion with personal expression.
The Ultimate “Superman” Tattoo Roundup: Just in Time for Superman’s Return to Screens
With Superman’s big return to theaters, fans are revisiting some of the most iconic ink inspired by the Man of Steel.