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Lucky Frog

Lucky Frog is a bronze sculpture of a frog by the Spanish artist dEmo, installed in Madrid, Spain, in 2014 outside the Casino Gran Madrid on the Paseo de Recoletos. It was commissioned for the casino’s opening as a gesture of thanks to the city for restoring legal gambling after 90 years. The sculpture was unveiled on 3 April 2014 by journalist Carme Chaparro and actor Paco León. Its underbelly is engraved with 34 symbols of good luck from world cultures, including numbers, a scarab artifact, a four-leaf clover, the peace sign, currency symbols, and religious signs. A specialist applied the turquoise green patina, which is also considered lucky.

Lucky Frog statue with teal patina and golden eyes in front of a modern building.
The Lucky Frog sculpture stands before a modern building in Madrid.
© · CC BY 2.0
Lucky Frog sculpture with a turquoise-green patina and golden eyes on a sidewalk.
Lucky Frog sculpture in Madrid, showing its turquoise-green surface, engraved legs, and golden eyes.
March 2022 © · CC0
Lucky Frog sculpture with a blue-green oxidized surface and etched symbols on its legs, standing on a city sidewalk.
Lucky Frog, a metallic sculpture with a blue-green oxidized finish, installed on a city sidewalk.
August 2014 © · CC BY 2.0
Lucky Frog sculpture on a city sidewalk beside a modern building.
The Lucky Frog sculpture stands on a Madrid sidewalk near a modern building.
May 2023 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rusty bluish-green plaque for Lucky Frog with engraved text and symbols.
A weathered plaque for Lucky Frog, showing engraved text and decorative symbols.
September 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleRana de la Fortuna
English titleLucky Frog
TypeBronze urban sculpture
SubjectFrog

Creator

ArtistEladio de Mora (dEmo)
Artist nationalitySpanish
Artist originToledo, Spain
Artist known forGiant colorful gummy-bear sculptures
Artist statementHe has said he received offers from numerous mayors in Spain to host the sculpture there.

Historical context

Unveiling eventPaco León acted as a prince and kissed the frog; well-known figures from Spanish cultural life attended
Unveiled byCarme Chaparro and Paco León
Unveiled on3 April 2014
Year created or donated2014
CommissionCommissioned by Casino Gran Madrid for the opening of the casino as a gesture of thanks to Madrid for restoring legal gambling after 90 years

Discovery and provenance

DonorCasino Gran Madrid
Recipientthe city of Madrid
Gift purposeA thank-you to Madrid for allowing a casino to exist in the city again, ninety years after the closure of the last one

Physical characteristics

HeightAbout 3.5 metres
Weight2 tonnes
Leg clearance2.20 metres
FormAn oversized frog with very elongated legs that allow pedestrians to walk underneath

Materials

Patina applied byJuan Manuel González, a specialist in patinas and sculpture coloring
PatinaBlue-green protective bronze patina
MaterialBronze

Appearance

OrientationFaces north toward the Monument to Columbus at Plaza de Colón
LightingIlluminated at night by five light sources embedded in the paving stones

Iconography and meaning

InspirationAn allusion to the Chinese feng shui lucky frog, associated with prosperity and wealth and normally shown with three legs
Surface decorationThe belly and legs are engraved with 34 good-luck symbols from world cultures
Examples of symbolsNumbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6/9, 7, 8, 13; Egyptian scarab; four-leaf clover; horseshoe with seven nails; rabbit; dolphin; elephant; owl; witch on a broom; heart; key; dollar, euro, and pound signs; star; moon; hippie symbol; yin-yang; eye; X; chicken bone; Hindu om; infinity symbol; open hand with an eye in the palm; fist with the thumb raised; red Italian horn; peace sign; scarab artifact; various religious signs
Patina color symbolismTurquoise green is also considered lucky

Location and ownership

Replica receptionThe replica became a popular selfie motif
ReplicaA 3D-printed copy was permanently installed in July 2024 in one of the arrival halls of Málaga Airport
Nearby landmarksCasino Gran Madrid; Museo de Cera; Monument to Columbus
Location contextPlaced on a sidewalk in a pedestrian area
Former locationPaseo de Recoletos, in front of the casino and the Museo de Cera
Current locationOutside Casino Gran Madrid on Paseo de Recoletos, Madrid, Spain

History and restoration

Use permission revokedIn 2021, the district council of Centro withdrew the casino's concession to use the 15.75 m² sidewalk area
Legal disputeThe casino objected after the concession was revoked
Court rulingIn December 2021, a court ruled that public-space use is permitted for a maximum of four years and that the sculpture should have been removed in 2018
Appeal possibilityThe court said the casino could appeal to the city's Supreme Court
Further rulingIn November 2023, the higher court also ordered removal of the artwork
Status one year laterOne year after the November 2023 order, the sculpture was still installed at the site

Significance

Public receptionReactions at the unveiling were mixed, ranging from enthusiasm for the project to criticism that its placement in the middle of the sidewalk was disruptive
PopularityThe symbols attract strong interest from passersby, who often examine them closely