Osborne Bull Turns 50

Happy Birthday Osborne Bulls!

Osborne Bull Turns 50!

Driving throughout the Spanish countryside, one cannot ignore the gigantic bull silhouettes boasting from hilltops and plains. Weighing over four thousand kilos each and with a height of nearly fourteen meters (equivalent to a four-story building), ninety Osborne bulls stand frozen in time, carefully placed to be easily viewable from major roads and highways against a clear backdrop of sky.

Four metallic turrets with a total weight of fifty thousand kilos are anchored to the ground to install each bull. Over one-thousand holes are then drilled to assemble the structure, piece by piece, like a mammoth jigsaw puzzle, to be finally topped off with over 50 kilos of paint. Now THAT’s a lot of bull!

Today, the Osborne bull is a symbol of Spain to much of the world; yet, the Osborne bull was originally developed as part of a private commercial venture: an advertising initiative with the goal of marketing Osborne brandy. Proposed by the Azor advertising agency in 1956, the artist Manual Prieto, commonly known as “Manolo” Prieto, was hired to conceptualize the project, using a square piece of paper to draw the silhouettte of a fighting bull.

Original Sketch

Erected in 1957, the original bulls were but four meters high and constructed of wood, paling in comparison to the giants that currently dominate the Spanish landscape. By the end of 1957, sixteen bulls had been erected.

In 1961, wood was swapped for metal. Additionally, Spanish law pushed billboards further and further away from the main roads, giving rise to the birth the modern Osborne bulls who, in order to be viewable at greater distances from the roads, needed to grow in size. Since then, what was once a simple marketing campaign has become the Osborne corporate symbol; and in fact, the Osborne bulls represent Spain throughout the world. Just walk into any tourist shop to find the symbol on everything from t-shirts to shot glasses. The herd can also be found throughout Mexico, but make no mistake that these “toros” are as Spanish as paella.

LOCATION OF BULLS AROUND SPAIN

This year is the 50th anniversary of the first installation of an Osborne bull along the N-I highway in Cabanillas de la Sierra (at the 52 Km mark of the Madrid-Burgos road). To celebrate, Osborne has launched a contest, giving artists the unique opportunity to submit photos, graphic designs, short films, or a literary piece that show a passion for the Osborne Bull. Prizes include a family pass to parks, a Sony Playstation 3, and a motorcycle. Winners will also be included in an online art exposition.

Additionally, Osborne has contracted fifty of Spain’s top celebrities from the world of art and culture to create their own Osborne bulls. From Alejandro Sanz to Santiago Segura, Spain’s top personalities are up to their eyeballs in bull. Starting today, these bulls are on display at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. Expect to see blinged-out bulls by famous singers, Real Madrid football players, actors, and of course fine artists.

So now, more than ever, is the chance for you to get a real load of bull. Just watch where you step!