Figurine of a silver bull
- Audio guide stop: 411
- Gallery: Room 54
- Culture: Early Bronze Age
- Date: 2300BC (circa)
- Object type: figure
- Materials: silver; gold; copper
- Museum number: 135851
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is a Figurine of a Silver Bull, dating from the Early Bronze Age, around 2300 BC. It is a beautifully crafted figure of a bull made from silver, with intricate gold inlays on its shoulders, haunches, and sides. The bull stands on a copper base, and a rectangular block at the bottom may suggest it was once attached to a burial canopy pole—an object reserved for someone of importance. The animal was carved with great precision, showcasing early mastery of metalwork, especially the inlay technique that combines silver with gold accents. It was likely a prized possession, given the quality of craftsmanship and materials. This small statue would have been remarkable in its time and offers us a fascinating glimpse into ancient artistry and culture.
See it in person
Figurine of a silver bull is on display in Room 54 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 411, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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