Case Study: University of Chicago creates museum-quality Warka Vase replica to preserve cultural heritage with Stratasys PolyJet

Preserving Cultural Heritage University of Chicago Replicates Warka Vase with PolyJet™ 3D Printing

The University of Chicago’s Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) needed a way to present the Warka Vase’s narrative and material qualities without the original artifact, which remains in Baghdad. Traditional plaster casts lacked fidelity and conservators limit handling of originals, so ISAC partnered with Stratasys and chose PolyJet™ 3D printing (using the J850 Prime) to produce a high‑quality replica that preserves the vase’s texture and relief detail.

Stratasys, working with the University’s MRSEC and ISAC designers, 3D printed fragmented sections from CAD scans on the J850 Prime PolyJet printer and displayed them atop an 8x6 ft photographic print of the Warka site. The Stratasys PolyJet prints delivered fine, high‑resolution relief and full‑color realism (the team called the resolution “fabulous”), enabling hands‑on, immersive engagement and restoring the visual and emotional impact of the Warka Vase for visitors without risking the original.

University of Chicago

Hanaa Mallalah

Artist and Academic