Virgin and Child at the V&A, London

myminifactory

The Virgin stands proudly on a gleaming crescent moon, cradling the Child in her arms as he lies across a pristine white cloth that he clasps firmly with his right hand. Her head is tilted slightly towards infant Jesus, exuding a sense of gentle devotion. The shape of the crescent moon would not have provided sufficient support for the figure to be placed securely within an altarpiece. Moreover, two sturdy rectangular iron bars combined with relatively large holes in the head and at the base of the crescent moon, along with the intricately carved and gilded back of the Virgin, suggest that the figure was actually suspended from the vault, probably framed within a circle of the rosary. This remarkable object is part of "Scan The World", a groundbreaking non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a comprehensive digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort, where anyone with interesting items can contribute by emailing stw@myminifactory.com to learn how they can help. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.