Terracotta Head Replication

Recreating a missing head for a collection of three Terracotta Warriors using 3D scanning, 3D printing and traditional conservation finishing techniques.

  • Scanning Warrioir heads

    Scanning Warrioir heads

  • 3D printing new head

    3D printing new head

  • Testing finishes to match the originals

    Testing finishes to match the originals

  • Two original heads and one 3D printed with finishes applied by our conservation team

    Two original heads and one 3D printed with finishes applied by our conservation team

Terracotta Warrior Head 2 by Lincoln Conservation on Sketchfab

We were engaged to restore a trio of full-size, museum-grade Terracotta Warrior replicas. These were late 1970s copies of the original statues, one of which had suffered the loss of its head. The greatest challenge of the Terracotta Warrior replication was also rooted in the extraordinary attention to detail of the original undertaking – every Warrior’s face is unique. We achieved the sympathetic replication by:

  • Scanning the heads of the two other examples from the set using handheld scanners
  • Remodelling these scans using CAD applications, merging elements from the two heads to create a unique face for the third Warrior
  • 3D printing the new digital render on-site at the University
  • Retouching by conservators, who were able to achieve a surface finish to match the other figures using traditional pigments 

We believe in minimal intervention, and the 3D scanning process allows for minimal handling whilst producing exceptional results.