CONCEPT REALIZATIONS

BRONZE PRIMATE HANDS

3D scanned, bronze cast primate hands for the Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington, D.C.

Concept Realizations was commissioned to produce a series of life-size bronze casts of primate hands for a permanent display at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

We 3D scanned detailed plaster casts of the animals’ hands, including a gibbon, chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan. We captured every pore and wrinkle, even fingerprints. We digitally extended their wrists, oriented them for proper display, and 3D printed them in a high resolution wax. The 3D prints were then used in a traditional lost wax casting process, resulting in extremely detailed bronze casts.

The bronzes were mounted to graphics panels with printed and Braille text for accessibility for blind and low-vision visitors.

Detailed plaster casts of primates’ hands were 3D scanned, 3D printed in wax, and cast in bronze.