Receiving an Oscar statuette is one of the most coveted prizes an actor or actress can achieve. In 1927, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was formed, and Cedric Gibbons, the art director of MGM was given the job of creating a trophy to represent receiving this achievement. Take a glimpse into the extraordinary process behind making Oscar statuettes, which is knight standing on a real of film, gripping a crusader’s sword.
To make the 8.5 lb award, first, the base, made of Britannium, is poured into an individual mold. Next, the statue is dipped into a white ceramic mixture, thus adding a layer of coating to the statue. The edges around the statue are filed by hand. The statuette is then plated in copper, nickel silver, then lastly given a 24 karat gold finish. Meanwhile, the base of the statue is soldered. The entire thing is carefully buffed, then glued to the base. Finally, a piece of felt is placed at the bottom of the base. Everything is done with white glove treatment.
The official name of these golden statues are Academy Award of Merit and no one really knows why they are called Oscar. “A popular story has it that upon seeing the trophy for the first time, Academy librarian (and eventual executive director) Margaret Herrick remarked that it resembled her Uncle Oscar. These gold plated trophies are only layered in gold because if they were made of solid gold, each would cost around $219,000 to make!
