Silicified Sandstone Bull

Carved from resilient silicified sandstone and rising to a height of 17 cm, this finely sculpted bull statuette stands as a testament to the enduring reverence of bovine symbolism in Ancient Egyptian culture.

With dimensions of 8 cm in width and 26.5 cm in depth, and a sturdy weight of 4.06 kg, the piece exudes a quiet majesty, its form captured in dynamic, rounded contours that hint at the latent power of the animal. Although its inlaid eyes – once gleaming with precious materials, have long since vanished, the quality of the carving remains palpable. The naturalistic detailing of the musculature, especially along the shoulders and flanks, captures not only the physicality of the bull but also the spirit of virility and strength that it embodied for the Egyptians.

The bull was far more than a simple beast of burden in Egypt; it symbolised cosmic fertility, royal authority, and divine favour. Bulls such as the Apis of Memphis were venerated as living embodiments of the god Ptah, and their imagery adorned temples, tombs, and sacred artefacts.

The artistic style of this statuette reflects the stylistic conventions of the Ptolemaic period (332–30 B.C.), when Egyptian artists maintained traditional forms while incorporating subtle Hellenistic influences, evident in the more rounded modelling and lifelike proportions. The Roman period (30 B.C.–A.D. 395) continued this fusion, blending Egyptian reverence for the bull with Roman naturalism, resulting in sculptures that were both devotional and elegantly sculpted.

This particular bull may have once served as a votive offering or a funerary companion, ensuring strength and rebirth for its owner in the afterlife.

Acquired by the collector Mihran Sivadjian in November 1906 and later purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Curtis of Atherton, the statuette was generously donated to the Musée du Louvre (E 22727) in 1938, with formal accession in 1939. Though no longer on display, it continues to whisper of Egypt’s timeless connection with the mighty bull, a creature as much a symbol of the physical world as of the divine forces that shaped it.

Summary:

Silicified Sandstone Statuette of a Bull, with traces of inlay

Ptolemaic period, 332–30 B.C. – Roman period, 30 B.C.– A.D. 395

The precise ancient provenance of this sandstone bull statuette remains unrecorded, as it entered the modern antiquities trade in the early 20th century. Acquired by Mihran Sivadjian in November 1906, the statuette was subsequently purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Curtis of Atherton. Their donation, formalised by decree in 1939, brought the piece into the collection of the Musée du Louvre.

Musée du Louvre. E 22727