The History of Heart Tattoo DesignThe heart tattoo design has been popular for the past 100 years, its popularity peaking in the early to mid 1900's. The two curves running to a tip is one of the most recognized shapes in history, rivaled only by the cross, but its century's long evolution to the bright red playing card symbol, as common in today's art, architecture, and as a universal sign of cardiology, is surprising.
The first recorded example of the heart shape dates back to 3000 B.C. and can be found on a baked clay goblet housed at the Museum of Kabul in Afghanistan. The decorations on the goblet were green, not red, and were fashioned after fig leaves, and later ivy leaves.