Summary of the captions to the 3D illustrations of Frederik IX.
https://www.dr.dk/historie/webfeature/frederik-9-tattoo
He was a genuine folksy man, who was at ease with ordinary people, and that you could tell.
Based on photographic evidence he must have got his two first tattoos at age 31, when he in 1930 went on a five months formative journey to East Asia.
Because photos before that period show no sign of tattoos.
But after returning from Asia he suddenly sports a tattoo on each arm.
On his left upper arm he has a 35 cm long dragon. The style in Japanese and probably made during his trip to Japan.
The Japanese associate the dragon with kindness, wisdom and generosity.
In the West a dragon is dangerous and a symbol of strength and wealth.
He also had a dragon on his right lower arm, but in a different style. Presumably made in Thailand.
Frederik IX saw himself as a seaman and among seamen it was uncommon not to have tattoos. Apart from seamen, who traditionally sported tattoos with pride, they were normally only associated with criminals and prostitutes. So Frederik IX's tattoos got a lot of attention abroad. Not least he didn't attempt to hide them. (I can add that Marie of Orleans, who married Prince Aage, I think, also had a tattoo.)
It was assumed that the anchor on his left lower arm was the navy logo, but it's actually Frederik IX personal monogram from when he was crown prince. The addition of rope and anchor distinguish it from other DRF monograms, that usually only depict letters and a crown.
The bird is probably a sparrow. To sailors birds are significant as they often mean that land is nearby.
He had two birds on his right upper arm. Birds are also symbols of freedom, something he may have felt he didn't have that much.
The two paradise birds are very popular tattoos today as well.
It is speculated that some of the tattoos were made in Copenhagen, in Nyhavn 17, which still exist today. (Nyhavn was at the time a very rowdy place, with lots of bars, sailors, prostitutes and other colorful people.)
The shop had a photograph if Frederik IX and his tattoos in the window in the 50's, but that annoyed some people, so the police removed it.
Frederik IX and his friends were fond of a drink or ten, so a lot of information regarding the tattoos were probably lost by the time the hangover set in.
Even today it is not known who among that Danish tattoo-artist did these tattoos.
Two have actually claimed that made them, but there are rumors about two more.
Based of photos most tattoos were wellknown, but the two on inside of his lower arms were difficult to see, so in comes Benedikte.
On the right lower arm is a dragon, And on the left lower arm is a fox. Frederik IX was a passionate hunter.
Frederik IX was also a passionate bodybuilder. He was coached via letters by the London based George Walsh.
In 1951 some of the photos showing the physical progress of Frederik IX to George Walsh were leaked and published in Life Magazine.
And that included another dragon - the one on his chest. This Chinese dragon was made in a less the reputable part of London, by the artist George Burchett. Several sources claim Frederik IX brought a piece of Chinese cloth depicting a dragon with him, and asked the artist to tattoo it on his chest.
That took at least two hours, during which Frederik IX smoke a lot of strong Turkish cigarettes and drank from a flask. That was in 1949, and it was probably the last tattoo he had made.
- What a fascinating man, and what a contrast to the seemingly always correct Queen Ingrid. He must have appealed to her wild side.
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/kultur/hi...andede-konstant-her-er-12-ting-du-maaske-ikke
This link with twelve facts about Frederik IX are also amusing - he had a keen sense of humor and a progressive mindset.
I may have to return to that later.
