Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
For this purpose, UNESCO, in joint coordination with the CASPAR develop-
ers as well as in partnership with the Pisa Visual Laboratory from the Italian
National Research Centre of Pisa, undertook the laser scanning of a simple
handcraft-heritage-object.
By doing this, the CASPAR developers were able to see directly the whole pro-
cess starting from scratch and they were able to receive back for insertion into
CASPAR modules each data set resulting from each individual step of the laser
scanning.
This exercise allowed CASPAR to understand completely the laser scanning
process and to undertake all the necessary developments in order to ensure the
preservation of such a process and the preservation of the resulting data sets.
By doing this, the UNESCO testbed would be completed since by preserving a
complete process for this small heritage object, a complete similar process would
be necessary to undertake for a more complex heritage monument.
The process allowed also identifying the need to elaborate associated RepInfo
for each step and for each resulting data set.
Below is the whole information that was developed in order to support this
exercise and to be able to completely include it in to the different CASPAR modules.
21.1.2.5.1 Description of the Object
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Material: wood
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What it represents: Armadillo
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Dimension: 22 cm (length) / 5.5 cm (wide)
21.1.2.5.2 General Information
The object is an alebrije, a brightly-coloured Mexican folk art wooden sculpture of
a fantastical creature (in this case an armadillo). The armadillo was wood-carved
in Oaxaca, Mexico. Carvers use wood from the Copal tree that is primarily found
within the warm regions of Oaxaca. The wood from the female trees has few knots
and is soft and easy to carve when it is first cut. Once dried, it becomes light, hard,
and easy to sand smooth. The wood is often treated with chemicals before being
painted and finished pieces can be frozen for 1-2 weeks to kill any powderpost
beetle eggs or larvae that might be present. Some artists now use other woods like
cedar or imported hardwoods.
Pieces are carved using machetes and knives. Carvings created from a single
piece of wood are normally considered of higher quality than those assembled from
multiple pieces, although elements such as ears and horns are frequently carved
separately and fitted into holes.
Finished pieces are typically hand-painted with acrylics.
In 1930 Pedro Linares started creating elaborate decorative pieces that repre-
sented imaginary creatures he called alebrijes. Inspired by a dream when he fell ill
