What happened to the Robert Louis Stevenson statuette?

The statuette was headless and unidentified until a project scanned it, revealing the sculptor's signature and leading to a new 3D-printed head being added.

What is the purpose of the 3D-printed miniature busts?

The 3D-printed miniature busts, made with glow-in-the-dark filament, aim to make historical objects more approachable and fun for visitors.

What diversity issues does the exhibition highlight?

The exhibition aims to highlight absences and the lack of diversity in the museum's collection, interrogating how it represents minoritized groups.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Decapitated Stevenson Statue Gets New Head

Decapitated Stevenson Statue Gets New Head

7 Feb

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Summary

A headless statuette of Robert Louis Stevenson was identified in archives.
A new 3D-printed head was added to the statuette.
The exhibit highlights diversity gaps in the university's collection.

Decapitated Stevenson Statue Gets New Head

A 2ft tall statuette of Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson, previously headless and unidentified in the University of Leeds archives, has been completed with a new 3D-printed head. This discovery was made during a project to scan the collection.

Scans identified the sculptor as David Watson Stevenson, leading curators to link the piece with a complete bronze statue at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery. The statuette is now on display as part of an exhibition celebrating the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery.

This exhibition also features 3D-printed miniature versions of other busts, created to make historical figures more accessible and fun. A key aim is to address and highlight the underrepresentation of minority groups within the university's collection.