ARTIFACT RECONSTRUCTION: VENUS DE MILO SPINNING THREAD
Digital & 3D-printed reconstruction of Venus de Milo’s missing arms, for Slate story.
Concept Realizations was hired to reconstruct the Venus de Milo’s missing arms. The project was commissioned for this story for Slate about the theory that Venus was originally depicted using ancient weaving tools to spin thread.
We used our own 3D scan of an 1852 plaster cast of Venus, and referred to ancient Greek vase paintings and images and videos of modern spinners using ancient tools to determine an anatomically plausible pose for her arms. Once the digital design was complete, we 3D printed, faux finished, and photographed a small statuette. We also produced eye-catching illustrations which grabbed reader’s attention and helped the story get picked up by press around the world:
Slate:
What Was the Venus de Milo Doing With Her Arms?
The Independent:
Just what was the Venus de Milo doing with her arms?
Daily Mail:
Was the Venus de Milo a PROSTITUTE?
Paris Match:
Prostituée et fileuse ? – La vie secrète de la Vénus de Milo
Smithsonian.com:
The Mystery of What Venus de Milo Was Once Holding
Μηχανη Του Χρονου:
Τι πραγματικά κρατούσε η Αφροδίτη της Μήλου στα χέρια της
The Guardian:
Why we’re still up in arms about the mystery of the Venus de Milo
The Times:
Venus as you have never seen her … a prostitute with time on her hands
