Have you ever walked past a historic building and noticed a fascinating architectural detail hidden in plain sight? During my ongoing project to preserve the architectural heritage of Liverpool in 3D, I took my Creality Otter Lite down to Water Street. My target was the iconic and legendary bronze tiger heads that adorn the main doors of the former Bank of Liverpool building.
Here is the incredible story behind these hidden gems and how the latest handheld 3D scanning technology makes capturing their intricate details so easy.
The History Of The Water Street Tigers
Located right in the heart of the business district at Number 7 Water Street, this stunning Grade II listed building has a rich and varied past. While it currently houses the stylish Gaucho steakhouse, it was originally the Bank of Liverpool.
Here are the key historical facts about the building and its famous felines:
- The Architecture: The building boasts incredible period architecture, but the most famous external features are the two massive bronze tiger heads that serve as the door handles and decorative focal points on the main entrance.
- The Legend: Liverpool has a deep maritime history, and these tigers play a unique part in it. For generations, legend had it that Lascar sailors, specifically Indian and Somali crewmen working on the global shipping routes, would come to these doors before embarking on a long voyage.
- The Polished Teeth: The sailors would rub the teeth of the bronze tigers for good luck. If you look closely today, the teeth of the tigers are still incredibly polished and shiny compared to the dark patina of the rest of the bronze, a lasting physical reminder of this maritime tradition.
Scanning Reflective Bronze With The Creality Otter Lite
Digitizing highly reflective and dark metallic architectural details right on a busy city street is usually a nightmare for 3D scanners. Between the constant foot traffic of Water Street and the shiny polished teeth of the tigers, I needed a highly capable tool. The Creality Otter Lite proved to be absolutely perfect.
Here is why the scanner excelled at capturing the Bank of Liverpool tigers:
- Incredible Detail: Capturing the intricate fur textures and those famous polished teeth required serious precision. The 0.05 millimeter accuracy of the Otter Lite flawlessly captured every single groove and scratch in the bronze left by decades of sailors.
- No Messy Sprays: Because this is a beautifully restored Grade II listed building and an active restaurant, applying dulling spray to the doors was completely out of the question. The advanced vision system handled the dark bronze and the bright, shiny teeth perfectly in the natural city light.
- Compact And Unobtrusive: Scanning on a busy pavement requires you to be quick and avoid getting in the way of pedestrians. The completely wireless and incredibly lightweight design of the Otter Lite meant I could step up to the doors, capture the tigers smoothly, and pack up within minutes without causing any disruption.
Preserving A Unique Piece Of Maritime Folklore
Our city is full of small, incredible details that tell the story of our global maritime past. Capturing these bronze tiger heads in 3D allows us to digitally preserve a unique piece of Liverpool folklore. Now, the legend of the Lascar sailors and their good luck charm can be shared and explored in high resolution by anyone, anywhere.
