3D-Printed Replica of the Seated Figure of Mictlantecuhtli
This object is a 3D-printed reproduction of the sandstone seated figure of Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of death, held in the British Museum (museum number Am1849,0629.2). The original sculpture, dated 1325–1521, measures 60 cm in height and 27 cm in width and depicts the deity in a compact, cross-armed seated posture with skeletal facial features and three calendar glyphs on the reverse. The replica reproduces the principal formal and iconographic characteristics of the original within the constraints of the selected production process.
Available materials
– White nylon: The surface is finished by polishing, which produces a smoother tactile quality. This is the most economical option.
– Black nylon: A post-printing treatment is applied prior to the Color Touch finish. The resulting parts are sufficiently resistant for external exposure and withstand scratching and rubbing. Colour remains stable and consistent across production batches. The surface presents a uniform colour of good quality.
– Bronze, gold-plated brass, and white rhodium-plated brass: Production follows a metal-casting process. A master model is first built in wax by 3D printing and constitutes an exact replica of the intended finished object. A plaster mould is formed around the wax model. Liquid metal is then injected into the mould; the wax is drained through a tree-like structure and replaced by the metal. The method yields metal parts of refined appearance.
Dimensions
Nylon versions measure 5.9 × 12 cm (2.3 × 4.7 inches).
Metal versions measure 2 × 4 cm (0.8 × 1.6 inches).
Objects that exceed the maximum size permitted by the production process for a given material are produced at a reduced scale relative to the original. Hollowing is occasionally introduced to lower the price.
