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David Hume

The big toe of Alexander Stoddart's bronze David Hume statue sticking out over the plinth on the Royal Mile, rubbed to shiny gold against the weathered green bronze
Artwork FileEdinburgh, United Kingdom

David Hume

SeenJul 2018

Alexander Stoddart · 1997 · Edinburgh

Photo: Ogmios (CC BY-SA 4.0), 2018-07-31. Resized, full frame.

Alexander Stoddart’s seated David Hume stands on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Students and visitors rub the philosopher’s exposed big toe for luck or wisdom, polishing it to a bright gold colour. Source Source Source Source Reported

Seen Jul 2018 — evidence dated 2018-07-31. The dated source does not establish present condition. Source Checked

💡 4 things to know

  1. A modern monumentHistoric Environment Scotland records its erection on November 21, 1997, followed by unveiling on November 30. Source Checked
  2. Made by Alexander StoddartScottish sculptor Alexander Stoddart created the seated bronze. Source Checked
  3. An invented traditionThe Irish Times reports that Stoddart anticipated the ritual before it took hold. Source Reported
  4. Wear you can seeA 2018 close-up shows the toe polished far brighter than the foot. Source Checked

📍 Where it is

Royal Mile, outside the High Court of Justiciary · Edinburgh, United Kingdom Source Checked

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🗓️ Sightings

  1. 199721 Nov

    Statue erected on the Royal Mile

  2. 199730 Nov

    David Hume statue unveiled

  3. 20174 Feb

    Toe-rubbing tradition described in the Irish Times

  4. 201831 Jul

    Close-up photographed of the polished toe

  5. 202228 Jan

    Edinburgh News publishes an account of the toe-rubbing custom

Green stamps mark dated photographs; amber stamps mark records or reports; red stamps mark loss. Publication dates are not camera dates.

✅ The facts

Artist
Alexander Stoddart Source Checked
Installed
21 November 1997 Source Checked
Material
Bronze Source Checked
Location
Royal Mile, outside Edinburgh’s High Court Source Checked
Visitor ritual
Rubbing the big toe for luck or knowledge Source Reported
Visible wear
The big toe appears much brighter than the surrounding bronze Source Checked
Date discrepancy
Edinburgh News gives 1995; Historic Environment Scotland records erection and unveiling in November 1997. We use 1997 from the national heritage record. Source Source Conflicting

🔗 Related

All sources & image credits

Last checked: 29 October 2026. How we verify art