Why visit a museum halfway around the world, when you can check out 3D scans, and print them from your own home?

Sketchfab, a platform that lets users publish and share 3D content online, unveiled on Thursday an option for users to make their files downloadable. Under Creative Commons licenses, a user can either publish 3D content "for display and download" or "for display only," Sketchfab said in a blog post. Users can apply the content in a variety of ways, such as using it in virtual reality environments, when developing video games or, if the files are compatible, for 3D printing.

The company also announced that it is hosting the "first downloadable collection" of the British Museum in London. Currently, the collection only has 14 3D models available, including various statues, a broken marble portrait of Julius Caesar, a marble bust of Zeus and a red granite sarcophagus. Users can download and print these museum artifacts, which would look spiffy on any office desk.

Colossal marble bust of Zeus by britishmuseum on Sketchfab

If artifacts are not your style, Sketchfab also has other content in its extensive database, such as Christmas decorations, 3D printable cases for Nokia, HTC and Apple smartphones, as well as objects created by Microsoft, including a mustache-shaped cookie cutter.

Sketchfab's new download option Image: Sketchfab

Sketchfab currently offers more than 200,000 3D objects, but not all uploaded files are immediately downloadable. However, any user who uploaded 3D content to the site can switch on “allow download” under “properties.” Sketchfab defaults to Creative Commons “attribution” mode, but it also allows for “non-commercial,” “no derivatives” and “share alike” licenses.

To help get you started, we’ve embedded some of our own 3D creations — all scanned using a Structure Sensor iPad accessory —- below:

Pete Cashmore by lanceulanoff on Sketchfab

Christina Warren by lanceulanoff on Sketchfab

Pringles by lanceulanoff on Sketchfab