DKPL’s Open-Source Museum: Part 2

Jun 5, 2026 | Personal Enrichment, Maker Machines, Makers

An image featuring a cluster of Ancient Egyptian statues and artifacts, all of which have been 3D printed.

After celebrating Ancient Greece for 2022’s 8 Countries in 1 Day, the Tech Desk & Studio Department moved on to Ancient Egypt in 2023. Dozens of artifacts, amulets, and statues were printed for the event, though the majority were given away as prizes for the trivia contest. However, some of the most popular and classic artifacts have been re-created as displays in the Open-Source Museum.

For the second part of this blog series on the Open-Source Museum, we’ll be highlighting canopic jars, a famous cat statue, and a queenly bust that’s actually used as a calibration test for 3D printers. Most of the models were found from Scan the World, an organization which collects scans of artifacts from around the world to create an ecosystem of accessible cultural sharing and discovery.

3D printed canopic jar with a jackal head. — Canopic Jar with the jackal head of Duamutef. Duamutef is one of the four sons of the god Horus and traditionally held the stomach after mummification. The jar in the open-source museum is actual size.

3D printed canopic jar with a human head. — Canopic Jar with the human head of Imsety. Imsety is one of the four sons of the god Horus and traditionally held the liver after mummification. The jar in the open-source museum is actual size.

Light green 3D printed bust of a woman. — Bust of the Ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti. The original bust was created in 1345 BCE and is displayed at the Neues Museum in Berlin. The model in the open-source museum is approximately 1:5 scale.

3D printed statue of a cat with gold rings in its ears and nose. It's been painted to mimic aged bronze. — Gayer-Anderson Cat. This statue, which represents the goddess Bastet, was donated to the British Museum in London by Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson and Mary Stout Shaw. The original statue was made in the Late Period of Ancient Egypt (664-332 BCE). The model in the open-source museum is actual size.

3D printed canopic jar with a baboon head. — Canopic Jar with the baboon head of Hapy. Hapy is one of the four sons of the god Horus and traditionally held the lungs after mummification. The jar in the open-source museum is actual size.

3D printed canopic jar with a falcon head. — Canopic Jar with the falcon head of Qebehsenuef. Qebehsenuef is one of the four sons of the god Horus and traditionally held the intestines after mummification. The jar in the open-source museum is actual size.

All patrons are welcome to view and engage with the Open-Source Museum during Open Labs. All of the artifacts in the Open-Source Museum are also available to be printed. Just let a staff member know, and they’ll locate the appropriate file, which are all pre-sliced and ready for printing. Keep an eye out for Part 3 of this series, which will feature fossils and more objects from the ancient era! Questions or comments? Contact the Tech Desk at [email protected], or call (815) 756-9568 ext. 2851.

DKPL’s Open-Source Museum: Part 2

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