Złoty cielec. Żywica. Europa Zachodnia. XX wiek.

I used to have much higher financial expectations for this sculpture. I associated it with a Belgian art deco artist. Unfortunately, the piece of paper on which I wrote down his name was lost forever, and I was never able to verify the authorship of the sculpture.

In addition, I found a stylistically similar sculpture depicting a golden bull, sold in chain stores offering decorative items for the home. The one I am offering is more abstract, simplifying and transforming the shape of the bull to a greater extent. However, I still cannot find its author.

The sculpture depicts a golden calf. At least for me, this interpretation seems obvious.

The golden calf is a statue made by Aaron at the request of the confused Israelites during Moses' forty-day stay on Mount Sinai. It was cast from gold jewelry that the Israelites donated for this purpose. It was supposed to replace God, who was thought to have abandoned the chosen people. Upon his return from Mount Sinai, Moses ordered the statue to be broken, burned, ground to dust, and drowned in the sea. But that was not the end of it, for he summoned the tribe of Levi and, with their help, killed 3,000 men who had doubted the true God. Thus, the first religious schism, embodied in a golden statue, had a very tragic and bloody ending. The golden calf has become a symbol of idolatry, false gods, and an unhealthy love of wealth.

The sculpture is probably made of synthetic material. Despite numerous chips, the thick layer of gold paint does not allow for an unambiguous determination of the material from which it was made. I also admit the possibility that it is wooden.

The sculpture, together with its base, is 30 cm high, 37 cm long, and 10 cm wide. The base measures 29 by 12 by 4 cm.