Today a client of Croatian descent requested a unique traditional ethnic pattern to celebrate his father's heritage. It looks like a Celtic design, so it felt quite familiar and was a pleasure to measure and install it as a perfect repeat that forms an arm band tattoo. Years ago he had gotten the upper band based on runes in honor of his Swedish mother, and now he is building a sleeve with many elements.

Croatian 'Pleter' Interlace Band Tattoo by Pat FIsh

"The Croatian interlace or Croatian wattle, known as the pleter or troplet in Croatian, is a type of interlace, most characteristic for its three-ribbon pattern. It is one of the most often used patterns of pre-romanesque Croatian art. It is found on and within churches as well as monasteries built in early medieval Kingdom of Croatia between the 9th and beginning of the 12th century. The ornamental strings were sometimes grouped together with animal and herbal figures." -Wikipedia

12th Century Croatian Carving featuring the woven pleter pattern