Abstract: A solid object, such as a human head, is optically scanned by photographically or photoelectrically recording, in each of a succession of closely spaced angular positions about a central axis, a group of three linear images to be subsequently used in a three-dimensional representation of the object. Each group includes the image of a silhouette of the object, taken along a line of sight perpendicular to the central axis, and two collateral images of contour lines projected upon the object in two planes on opposite sides of that line of sight intersecting approximately orthogonally along this axis. These images, or their stored data, serve to control the movement of carving tools such as a cutting wire and an end mill to sculpture a replica of the object from a block successively rotated into corresponding angular positions.