source: https://infosec.exchange/@tinker/117296833013985892

Roman dodecahedron be like:

Or possibly a game piece.

Yeah I was going to say they ought to be a good test print. And it would always be good to bring a classic back

This one is just as likely:

https://www.printables.com/model/1595-low-poly-rose-vase

Well, they would be correct. It is a ritualistic object.

As a hobbyist printer, I can confirm

It's clearly for knitting buoys.

It is a ritual object. I print one with every new printer.

Smithing test.

Toys would fit the definition of a ritual object. It is an object, (a toy boat,) that is used during a ritualistic activity, (play,) to achieve a goal, (for this particular one not entirely sure if it is merely the appeasement of a small tyrant wannabe in exchange for neural stimulation, or bath time which requires much of the same.)

All of you who don't know what that dodecahedron was for, need to pick up a hammer and anvil, or piece of railroad.

It was a smithing test. Go show one to a smith, and ask if they could make it. If you could/can make that, you were/are a master redsmith, whitesmith, or blacksmith, possibly all three. If you can create that with nothing more than tongs, a hammer, an anvil, and a forge, well you know enough smithing to smith anything that is needed. The smiths were well known in ancient Rome, and up until the modern times, not to bother writing down anything they might consider a secret.

Rituals being the default explanation for basically every artifact can be annoying until you realize we're living in the golden age of ritual

My favorite explanation is that they were used to make wool mittens.

Not really. I've been in the 3d printing hobby for about 5 years and I couldn't pick that model out of a line-up of other similar models; it does not stand out at all, let alone in the same league as 3d Benchy. Also, archeologists can probably understand why vases exist and won't have to debate it. Finally, that model has under 10k downloads, Benchy has over half a million downloads (Also on printables, no way to track both models across everywhere they've ever been hosted).

That vase shows up everywhere. It was on Thingiverse for years before Printables even existed.

If you browse filaments on Amazon right now you're likely to see that vase model as an example of the filament in the pictures.

If you go on etsy, you'll see that vase being sold and has been sold there for years.

To showcase fancy filaments, YouTubers will often print that specific vase.

It's been printed millions of times worldwide.

That vase was featured on Daily Dose of Internet twice (not that that matters much but it's an interesting thing considering that Daily Dose doesn't usually care about 3D prints).

If you've been in the hobby for five years but don't know about that vase, you've been living under a rock.

I actually asked Gemini for an estimate of how many prints of that model exist worldwide and it said "1.5 million and 3.5 million prints". Based on all of Google's collected statistics about it on the Internet.

Benchy was originally released in 2015, and had over 1/4 of a million downloads from Thingiverse in under 2 years. It was the number one model on Thingiverse, and still is the most popular of all time (this vase isn't in the first 10 pages). They have unfortunately reset their statistics since then so there is no way to know how many downloads it has had total.

You’re gonna have to explain that one for me plz

"i just think they're neat!"

i think it entirely depends on who the new printer owner is, printing a vase is much more appealing to someone who isn't a 3d printing nerd since it's way faster and actually somewhat practical (most people wouldn't consider a benchy particularly decorative)

The holes were like home-made glory holes that would encourage the workers to knit faster

It's for fertility

Good thing you have the information all these expert historians missed.

For your viewing... ahem... pleasure: