How does 3D printing help scholars better understand a 700-year-old object? This medieval ivory triptych was recently 3D scanned in the #CMAConservation labs with colleagues from @cwruarthistorystudents and @cwruthinkbox. The ivory will star in Prof. Elina Gertsman’s mixed reality project  on medieval spaces, in development at the CWRU’s Interactive Commons, where a printed full-color, full-scale model will allow students to experience this treasure as its first owner might have done.  The project, completed with the Artec Leo structured white light 3D scanner, was helmed by the CMA conservator Colleen Snyder, with the participation of Reed O’Mara (Art History), Madeline Newquist (Art History), Jeremiah Mubiru (Engineering / think[box]), Rachel Smith (think[box]), Howard Agriesti (CMA), and Justin Wilson (CWRU/CMA). Many thanks to the Tim O’Brien for his support in this project, and to Elizabeth Bolman, Mark Griswold, Erin Henninger, and Cat McAllester for their enthusiasm about this mixed-realit

y fever dream!

1 – Curator Gerhard Lutz, Professor Elina Gertsman, postdoc Justin Wilson, and PhD student Reed O’Mara discuss the triptych

2 – Examining the object before scanning with conservator Colleen Snyder

3 – CWRU Engineering student and think[box] staff Jeremiah Mubiru demonstrates the use of the Artec Leo scanner. After processing, the file will be printed in full color at think[box].

4 — Triptych: The Life of the Virgin, c. 1325–1350, France, Lorraine?, or Austria?, ivory, traces of gilding, 25.9 x 21.3 cm. Cleveland Museum of Art. Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1951.450