New Technology Showcases Antique Cabinet

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
May 23rd 2010 at 6:01PM

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is using new technology to showcase a very old object. A 17th-century display cabinet from Augsburg, Germany can now be viewed from a variety of different angles thanks to augmented reality. The piece, which is embellished with various woods, gemstones, marble and other inlays, can be zoomed in to show detail and a a 3D overview shows all the cabinets many doors and drawers. It's an effective way of showing a piece like this which is full of so many intricate details. Walking by it in the museum you might not stop to marvel a tiny inlaid gold ceiling or the detailed carving of a basilisk but online you can linger over each element. It will never replace seeing the object in person but it's a fascinating use of technology. To explore the Augsburg Display Cabinet, visit www.getty.edu/collectorscabinet.

[via ArtDaily]

Tags: antiques, art display, art exhibits, augmented reality, Getty Images