This is a three-dimensional replica of the bronze head of a youth in the Glyptothek, Munich. The original is a Roman hollow-cast bronze, produced in the late first century BCE or the early first century CE, after a Greek work of the Severe Style (c. 460–450 BCE). Height of the original: 46 cm.
The head represents a type, not a portrait: the victorious ephebe, distinguished by tightly waved hair and a thin tainia (victory fillet). The empty eye sockets, the break at the neck, and the fragmentary character of the piece are retained. The Greek original is unattributed; so is the Roman caster. The sculpture was found in Naples and acquired in 1815 for Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria. It has been in the Glyptothek since 1830.
Materials
- White nylon — Sintered nylon with a polished surface. Polishing reduces roughness and is the most economical finish.
- Black nylon — Sintered nylon with a post-print treatment and Color Touch finish. The parts are resistant to outdoor exposure, scratching and rubbing. Colour is uniform and consistent between production batches.
- Bronze — Lost-wax metal casting from a 3D-printed wax master. A plaster mould is taken from the master; the wax is burned out and liquid metal is poured in. The result is a solid metal object with a traditional cast appearance.
- Gold-plated brass — The same lost-wax brass casting, subsequently gold-plated.
- White rhodium-plated brass — The same lost-wax brass casting, subsequently plated with white rhodium.
Objects that exceed the limits of the production process in a given material are supplied at a reduced scale relative to the original. Hollowing is applied in some cases in order to reduce price.
