Sir Thomas Browne
I was commissioned to digitize and reproduce a rare plaster cast of the skull of Sir Thomas Browne. This project combined high-detail 3D scanning and 3D printing workflows. The goal was to create an accurate digital archive of the cast, and produce a 3D printed replica for educational or display purposes—without handling or risking the fragile original.
A custom 3d printed mount was created to support the skull while scanning to ensure no marks or damage, while also allowing access to all sides. Markers are used for tracking so multiple types are used to keep track even at low angles.
It was possible to capture the entire thing in just two orientations which made for a quick scan and the software then aligns the scan data and meshes the model.
Capture Process:
Phase 1 of the project has been to use a 3D scanner to capture the geometry in the highest detail, for 3D printing a replica.
Digital reconstruction on the scanned jaw bone has also been carried out to allow for a full model to be printed
Why This Project Matters:
With the skull reinterred in the 1920’s this cast is a rare artefact of the 17th century physician, philosopher and polymath Sir Thomas Browne.
The cast is stored in the St Peter Mancroft church in Norwich however is no longer on display. The jaw, now damaged, shows how hard it can be to keep artifacts like this available and accessible for future generations.
Digitisation hopefully opens this artifact up to other scholars and interested members of the public for years to come
This is an ongoing project. The aim is to carry out a further high detail photogrammetry scan of the skull to get the best visual fidelity possible, as the 3D scanners’ camera is of much lower quality. There is also the hope to scan another cast of the skull and compare the two.