Original Bullring bull sketches go under hammer

Original sketches which were the working designs for Birmingham's famous bronze bull have been sold at auction after being discovered following the sculptor's death.

The portfolio of 14 signed drawings, found at the home of Laurence Broderick, were bought by an online bidder in the UK for £2,600 plus fees, said Batemans Auctioneers.

Notes by Broderick on one say the "14th drawing and it was the drawing I decided to make", revealing the chosen design from which the 4.5m statue outside the Bullring was created.

Stephen Drake, of Batemans, said he was visiting the family's home to assess related works when in a "fantastic moment" the portfolio was pulled out from under a bed.

"Having done this job of auctioneer and valuer for over 27 years it is moments like this that make my job the best one in the world," he said.

The lot comprising of 14 signed A2 sketches, each dated July 2001 and individually numbered, was offered for sale by the family of the late Ingrid Christa Broderick, the artist’s wife.

It also included 34 photographs of the maquette, the smaller-scale model used in preparation for the full sculpture.

The auction took place at Batemans Auctioneers in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

The bronze, officially titled The Guardian, was erected in 2003 as the focal point of the city's then new shopping centre.

Broderick, who died in 2024 aged 88 and lived in Cambridgeshire, described the bull as a "gateway emblem for Birmingham throughout history".

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