Lot 158

Patriotic American Tattoo Designs by Amund Dietzel [Folk Art - Outsider - WWII], (Milwaukee, ca. 1945) Sight: 21 3/4 x 27 1/2 in. (55.2 x 69.9 cm.), Frame: 23 x 29 in. (58.4 x 73.7 cm.)

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Patriotic American Tattoo Designs by Amund Dietzel [Folk Art - Outsider - WWII], (Milwaukee, ca. 1945) Sight: 21 3/4 x 27 1/2 in. (55.2 x 69.9 cm.), Frame: 23 x 29 in. (58.4 x 73.7 cm.)

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Starting Bid: $2,000

(0 Bids)

by Bray & Co. Auctions
July 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
33 Jewell Court
Portsmouth, NH, US 03801

Patriotic American Tattoo Designs by Amund Dietzel [Folk Art - Outsider - WWII]
(Milwaukee, ca. 1945)
Large display of hand-painted tattoo flash by Amund Dietzel (1891-1974), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ca. 1945. Consisting of nineteen individual pieces of tattoo flash mounted on red presentation board. Ink and watercolor on paper. Framed behind plexiglass.

Born in Norway in 1891, Amund Dietzel began his career at sea, working aboard merchant vessels and learning the ancient art of hand-tattooing. In 1907, after wrecking off the coast of Quebec, he moved to the United States, eventually settling in New Haven, Connecticut. Here, Dietzel began tattooing professionally with British-born tattoo artist William Grimshaw; he also took art classes at Yale. The two worked closely for the next several years, covering each other neck-to-ankle in beautiful designs, and later tattooing in New York, Detroit, and Chicago. In 1916, after retiring from the carnival circuit, Dietzel opened his first shop in Milwaukee. For the next five decades he was the city's leading tattoo artist. Widely regarded during his lifetime as one of the masters of electric tattooing, Dietzel's reputation remains undiminished today.

Reference: Jon Reiter, These Old Blue Arms: The Life and Work of Amund Dietzel, Vols. I and II (Milwaukee: Solid State Publishing, 2010 and 2011)

  • Dimensions: Sight: 21 3/4 x 27 1/2 in. (55.2 x 69.9 cm.), Frame: 23 x 29 in. (58.4 x 73.7 cm.)
  • Condition: Bray & Co. Auctions is committed to providing accurate and thorough catalog descriptions, but prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to examine property in person or request additional information prior to bidding. Condition statements are offered solely as a courtesy and reflect our general observations at the time of cataloging; they should not be regarded as complete or definitive descriptions of condition, nor as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Certain imperfections, restorations, or signs of wear may not be specifically noted in written reports but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which form part of the overall condition description. Please consult our Terms of Sale for additional information, and contact Bray & Co. Auctions with any questions or requests for supplemental photographs or condition details.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000