Original Sketches of Birmingham's Iconic Bull Statue Discovered Hidden Under a Bed
Original drawings of the celebrated Bull statue in Birmingham, created by renowned sculptor Laurence Broderick, have been unearthed from beneath a bed in Cambridgeshire, with an estimated value reaching thousands of pounds.
The illustrations were uncovered nearly two years after Broderick's death at the age of 88, stashed away at his family home. Broderick was an internationally recognised artist known for his figurative carvings in stone and bronze castings, often inspired by nature.
Historic Discovery and Auction Details
Auctioneer Stephen Drake made the remarkable find while assessing the estate's value after the passing of Broderick's wife, Ingrid, in August last year. Drake described the moment as "fantastic," noting that the portfolio of work was pulled from under the bed during his visit.
The collection includes 14 signed A2 sketches dated July 2001, created two years before the bronze sculpture, officially titled The Guardian, was installed as the centrepiece of the Bullring shopping centre in 2003. These drawings feature handwritten annotations from Broderick regarding his preferred design.
On the final page, Broderick noted: "14th drawing and it was the drawing I decided to make." The sketches are anticipated to achieve between £2,000 and £4,000 at auction, but may command considerably more.
Broader Collection and Family Background
Over 50 lots from Broderick's archive are being auctioned at Batemans Auctioneers in Stamford, Lincolnshire, expected to draw bidders globally. The complete collection, sold by Broderick's children, is predicted to raise approximately £50,000.
In addition to the sketches, the archive contains 34 photographs of the maquette, a smaller-scale prototype used in preparation for the full-sized sculpture. Broderick described the bull as a "gateway emblem for Birmingham throughout history," reflecting the trade and marketplace characteristics synonymous with the animal.
The sculpture later inspired the city's charging bull, named Ozzy, which attracted thousands of visitors during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Family Legal Dispute and Settlement
Broderick was involved in a bitter £5 million legal dispute in 2022 with his two sons, Graeham and Roger, after excluding them from his will and bequeathing everything to the National Trust. The conflict arose following accusations that Broderick was responsible for the death of their younger brother, Ollie, in 2019.
Tragedy struck the family in 2018 when Ingrid was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and Ollie passed away a year later at age 46 after a lifelong battle with kidney failure, including three transplants. Graeham, who had worked closely with his parents in their art business, took legal action, claiming entitlement to up to £5 million from a business partnership. The case was settled out of court.
The auction of Broderick's art collection is scheduled for 7 March, offering a rare glimpse into the creative process behind one of Birmingham's most iconic public artworks.
