Clay and Concrete Mold for Complaint Tablet to Ea-Nāṣir

Ea-nāṣir Complaint Tablet Mold

This set of 3D models consists of two-part molds designed to replicate the iconic ancient Mesopotamian clay tablet known as the Complaint to Ea-nāṣir. The original tablet, dating back to around 1750 BCE, is one of the earliest examples of a written consumer complaint. These molds are formatted for historical education, creative replication, or as novelty gifts.  There are two sets of files for either using clay or concrete.  Clay will have better detail, but requires specialized tools and a kiln.  Concrete is easily accessible and doesn't require a kiln.

-------Clay Model Instructions--------

Materials Needed:

• Pottery clay (low- or mid-fire recommended)
• Cooking oil spray like Pam
• Sponge and water
• Pottery kiln

Steps:

1. Determine your clay shrinkage and upsize the model in your slicer - If you want to be super-nerdy and want the tablet to be the historically correct size, you need to know how much the clay you're using shrinks when firing to bisque.  You can measure this by first making a clay ruler at a fixed length, firing it to bisque, then calculating the shrinkage.  For those that don't really care, use 10% as good starting point.
2. Print the molds - Print in a durable filament with a strong infill (>40%) so you can press the molds together in later steps.  4 outer walls are recommended with a very small layer height to improve detail.
3. Prep the Molds - Spray the inside with cooking oil spray like Pam.  Use a paper towel to remove any puddles of oil in the mold.
4. Prepare the Clay - Wedge your clay to remove air bubbles. Roll it into a slab slightly thicker than the mold cavity.
5. Press the Clay - Press clay evenly into both halves of the mold, ensuring cuneiform details are well captured. Trim any excess flat on both molds.
6. Add slight convex layer - To make sure there are no gaps between the two parts, add a thin, convex layer on one side of the mold. It should not be thicker than 1-2mm since the excess will squeeze out the sides.
7. Join the Halves - Join the two filled halves by scoring slightly on both sides and then press together firmly.  Wiggle the mold back and forth, side to side, applying even pressure to get the mold parts as close together as possible.  A 1mm gap is fine and will be trimmed later.
8. Dry Slightly to Remove - Remove one side of the mold and let it dry slightly covered with plastic so it becomes a soft leather-hard.  
9. Remove onto foam surface - After about a day the clay should shrunk a little bit and should drop out of the mold easily--however--don't let it drop onto a hard surface.  Find a piece of foam so it does not damage the design.  
10. Trim edges and smooth mold line - Once removed, you will now remove the mold lines with your fingers.  It should be leather hard and will be easy to smooth out.
11. Dry very slowly! - Let the clay air-dry slowly to avoid warping or cracking. Cover loosely with plastic for the first few days to prevent drying too fast.  It can take up to a week to dry slowly enough to prevent cracking.
12. Bisque Fire - Fire very slowly in a kiln according to the clay body’s specifications (usually cone 04 for low-fire).  Since it is thicker than normal pots, it might be helpful to have it dry even more fully on top of a kiln prior to firing it.

-------Concrete Model Instructions--------

Materials Needed:

• Quick-set concrete or fine cement mix
• Silicone mold release spray
• Clamps or rubber bands
• Mixing container & stick
• Water

Steps:

1. Print model in TPU - It is essential to have a flexible mold to release the concrete, so don't use PLA or other rigid filaments.
2. Prep the Molds - Lightly coat the interior of both mold halves with silicone mold release spray to ensure easy demolding.
3. Mix the Concrete - In a disposable container, mix the concrete with water per package instructions until it reaches a thick but pourable consistency.  Pancake consistency is great.  Vibrate the container to remove air bubbles before pouring
4. Assemble the Mold - Align the front and back halves of the mold using the registration guides. Clamp or secure with rubber bands.
5. Pour the Concrete - Carefully pour the mixture into the top opening and fill the cavity. Tap the mold gently to release air bubbles.
6. Cure the Cast - Allow the concrete to cure fully—typically 12–24 hours. Do not open prematurely to avoid cracking.
7. Demold - Once fully cured, remove the cast tablet gently.