Venus de Milo Spinning Thread statuette

"La Vénus de Milo est un mystère"—Salomon Reinac, 1890

This fourteen-inch tall 3D printed statuette is an experimental reconstruction of the Venus de Milo's missing arms. I designed it in conjunction with this Slate story about the theory that Venus was originally depicted spinning thread: "What Was the Venus de Milo Doing With Her Arms?" by Virginia Postrel http://slate.me/1EIFLfm

I started with my own 3D capture of Venus de Milo—the most accurate 3D model of Venus de Milo in existence, which I made from an 1850 plaster cast made by the Louvre’s own studio. The arms' positions and tools were modeled after ancient Greek painted vases and diagrams by archaeologist Elizabeth Wayland Barber and others which outline this theory of Venus’ original design.

I 3D printed the final design in white plastic, and hand-painted the tools with gold metallic paint. I'm offering additional copies of this unique experimental reconstruction.

This design and experiment received press coverage from all over the world:

Slate: "What Was the Venus de Milo Doing With Her Arms?" http://slate.me/1EIFLfm (The original story the design was commissioned for.)

The Independent: "Just what was the Venus de Milo doing with her arms?" http://ind.pn/1cj9Yqk

Daily Mail: "Was the Venus de Milo a PROSTITUTE?" http://dailym.ai/1cKOHH0

Paris Match: "Prostituée et fileuse ? – La vie secrète de la Vénus de Milo" http://bit.ly/1IFhdW0

The Times: "Venus as you have never seen her ... a prostitute with time on her hands" http://thetim.es/1PCgkOs

Smithsonian.com: "The Mystery of What Venus de Milo Was Once Holding" http://bit.ly/1WFHGbm

ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ: "Τι πραγματικά κρατούσε η Αφροδίτη της Μήλου στα χέρια της" http://bit.ly/1dB73uC

Materials: 3D printed nylon, metallic chain, acrylic
14" tall, and 4.7" wide by 4.3" deep
7 oz

For indoor display only.

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