Roman Bull Replication
Reproducing a complete Roman Bull statue based on the discovery in Lincoln of a 1st-century marble torso through 3D scanning technology.
-
Original 1st centuary marble Roman bull discovered in Lincoln
-
Sketch designs and verification for the missing elements, Bradley Oliver White
-
Hand modelling the missing elements, Bradley Oliver White
-
Final assembly of the complete Bull, The Collection Museum, Lincoln
This Roman marble bull was discovered during archaeological excavations in Lincoln in 2013. A very rare find dating from the 1st or early 2nd century AD, the bull could have been part of a larger agriculturally-themed tableau, and certainly came from a high-status property in Roman Lindum Colonia.
Sadly, only its torso survived. Research suggested that the bull would originally have been a very majestic statement by a wealthy family, but this was difficult for viewers to understand, due to the missing extremities.
We were commissioned to scan and replicate the complete statue. This was achieved by:
- Scanning the surviving torso in order to produce a 3D-printed plastic replica model
- Giving the replica torso to artist Bradley Oliver White, who sketched and modelled the missing head and legs in clay using traditional sculptural techniques
- 3D scanning White’s new work and printing it to produce the final reconstruction, which is now on display alongside the original at The Collection in Lincoln
In this way, the restoration could proceed with minimal handling and risk to the original object.