Abstract
In recent years, 3D technology has been widely used in various aspects of the entire workflow of conservation–restoration. However, in the majority of cases, researchers have mainly relied on 3D technologies to assist the conventional conservation–restoration process, and its advantages have not truly been exploited. In this paper, we applied a combination of digital acquisition, virtual anastylosis, virtual reconstruction, and 3D printing of a transparent reversible prosthesis with slots for the restoration of a gold foil decorated Black Ding bowl collected by the Chifeng Museum of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. While completing the physical/aesthetic restoration of the artifact, the conservation–restoration principles of the integrity and authenticity of cultural heritage, minimal intervention and reversibility were followed to the utmost extent. At the same time, we also conducted preliminary performance tests on the 3D printing material of the prosthesis, and the results showed that the material has excellent mechanical properties and stain resistance, contributing to the long-term, stable preservation of the artifact. This work presents an innovative solution applicable to other pieces of cultural heritage and has high significance for promotion.
Highlights
Since its appearance in the 1980s, 3D technology has experienced strong and rapid growth and is widely used in industrial design, architecture, engineering construction, aerospace, surgery, and many other fields [1,2,3]
The virtual heritage model obtained from digital acquisition and digital modeling can make heritage information survive in the long term, providing the possibility for emergency preservation and even reproduction of cultural relics after damage [17,18,19]
In this paper, we dealt with a simple artifact, but how can a similar method be used for the restoration of a more complex artifact with a more complex shape? In virtual conservation work, technology outsourcing is a common practice that provides us with great convenience, including 3D technologies, and brings challenges, such as technical barriers
Summary
Since its appearance in the 1980s, 3D technology has experienced strong and rapid growth and is widely used in industrial design, architecture, engineering construction, aerospace, surgery, and many other fields [1,2,3]. The documentation requirements of cultural relics (archaeological sites [11,12,13], buildings [14], murals [15, 16], sculptures [6, 7], etc.) should be the initial application of 3D technologies in the field of cultural heritage to address potential threats such as natural disasters [15], damage by human activity [17], and other reasons. The virtual heritage model obtained from digital acquisition and digital modeling can make heritage information survive in the long term, providing the possibility for emergency preservation and even reproduction of cultural relics after damage [17,18,19]. With the help of computer software, various 2D plans, sections, orthophotographs, etc., of interest can be extracted whenever an issue arises or needs to be considered differently from before, which provides great convenience for subsequent research work [26]
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