See Also
See Again
© Reuters
0 / 31 Fotos
Ready for the camera - MGM art director Cedric Gibbons (1893–1960) is credited with designing Oscar, a statuette of a knight standing on a reel of film gripping a crusader's sword.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
Top billing - Hollywood lore suggests that Academy librarian and eventual executive director Margaret Herrick thought the statue resembled her Uncle Oscar. The moniker stuck, and the Academy made the name official in 1939.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
Height of fame - Each Oscar statuette stands 13.5 in (34 cm) tall and weighs 8.5 lbs (3.9 kg).
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Worth their weight in gold
- Oscar statuettes were originally made in gold-plated solid bronze. Today, they are manufactured using gold-plated metal. So, let's look into that process, shall we?
© Reuters
4 / 31 Fotos
A safe bet - Oscar statuettes sit in a safe at the Polich Tallix foundry in Walden, New York before being shipped to Epner Technology in Brooklyn to be electroplated in 24-carat gold.
© Reuters
5 / 31 Fotos
Typecast - The Oscar statuette master production mold is seen at the Polich Tallix foundry.
© Reuters
6 / 31 Fotos
Setting the scene - Oscar 3-D wax printed statuette molds stand at the foundry waiting for their star turn.
© Reuters
7 / 31 Fotos
Learning their lines
- A collection of Oscar statuettes fresh out of the mold.
© Reuters
8 / 31 Fotos
Following the script - A bronze Oscar statuette sits on a workbench waiting for the next stage of the manufacturing process—cleaning.
© Reuters
9 / 31 Fotos
Ready for a close-up - Each statuette is subject to thorough cleaning.
© Reuters
10 / 31 Fotos
Looking the part - The cleaning process requires a keen eye and steady hand.
© Reuters
11 / 31 Fotos
Star turn - A statuette is unceremoniously hung upside down during later stages of the cleaning process.
© Reuters
12 / 31 Fotos
Interval - Waiting its turn to be sanded and polished.
© Reuters
13 / 31 Fotos
Action! - Each statuette is placed in a vice to be individually polished.
© Reuters
14 / 31 Fotos
Polished performance - An Oscar statuette is polished and sanded by the finishing department's supervisor.
© Reuters
15 / 31 Fotos
Take one - Sanding the statuette is an intricate and time-consuming process.
© Reuters
16 / 31 Fotos
Take two - Polishing an Oscar requires patience and precision craftsmanship.
© Reuters
17 / 31 Fotos
Golden days - The next stage sees the statuettes transferred to Epner Technology to be dipped into a chemical ionized solution of gold cyanide.
© Reuters
18 / 31 Fotos
Colorful character - An ionized solution of gold cyanide gives an Oscar its distinctive color.
© Reuters
19 / 31 Fotos
It's a wrap - Shrouded in linen to avoid being marked or scratched, the statuettes are carefully unwrapped for the penultimate stage of the manufacturing process.
© Reuters
20 / 31 Fotos
In the limelight - A finished Oscar statuette sits before being mounted with a base.
© Reuters
21 / 31 Fotos
Grabbing all the attention - The statuette is inverted to receive its bronze black plating base.
© Reuters
22 / 31 Fotos
Headliner - Now looking familiar, the finished statuette is held with its bronze black plating base mounted.
© Reuters
23 / 31 Fotos
Based on a true story - Detail of the bronze black plating base of a finished Oscar statuette.
© Reuters
24 / 31 Fotos
Production values - Each finished Oscar statuette is carefully polished.
© Reuters
25 / 31 Fotos
Standing ovation - Resplendent in their color and design, the finished Oscar statuettes are ready to be delivered to Los Angeles.
© Reuters
26 / 31 Fotos
Best Actor, Best Actress - Best Actor and Best Actress Oscar statuettes packed and ready to be shipped to LA.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Scene stealer
- According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy locks extra trophies in a vault in case of theft or mishap.
© Reuters
28 / 31 Fotos
Curtain call - Oscar statuettes stand in line to be presented to lucky recipients.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
Worldwide receipts
- Miniature replica Oscar statuettes are shown for sale in a shop along Hollywood Boulevard. According to Refinery29, a real Oscar statue is worth US$629. See also: Iconic photos from Oscars past.
© Reuters
30 / 31 Fotos
© Reuters
0 / 31 Fotos
Ready for the camera - MGM art director Cedric Gibbons (1893–1960) is credited with designing Oscar, a statuette of a knight standing on a reel of film gripping a crusader's sword.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
Top billing - Hollywood lore suggests that Academy librarian and eventual executive director Margaret Herrick thought the statue resembled her Uncle Oscar. The moniker stuck, and the Academy made the name official in 1939.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
Height of fame - Each Oscar statuette stands 13.5 in (34 cm) tall and weighs 8.5 lbs (3.9 kg).
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Worth their weight in gold
- Oscar statuettes were originally made in gold-plated solid bronze. Today, they are manufactured using gold-plated metal. So, let's look into that process, shall we?
© Reuters
4 / 31 Fotos
A safe bet - Oscar statuettes sit in a safe at the Polich Tallix foundry in Walden, New York before being shipped to Epner Technology in Brooklyn to be electroplated in 24-carat gold.
© Reuters
5 / 31 Fotos
Typecast - The Oscar statuette master production mold is seen at the Polich Tallix foundry.
© Reuters
6 / 31 Fotos
Setting the scene - Oscar 3-D wax printed statuette molds stand at the foundry waiting for their star turn.
© Reuters
7 / 31 Fotos
Learning their lines
- A collection of Oscar statuettes fresh out of the mold.
© Reuters
8 / 31 Fotos
Following the script - A bronze Oscar statuette sits on a workbench waiting for the next stage of the manufacturing process—cleaning.
© Reuters
9 / 31 Fotos
Ready for a close-up - Each statuette is subject to thorough cleaning.
© Reuters
10 / 31 Fotos
Looking the part - The cleaning process requires a keen eye and steady hand.
© Reuters
11 / 31 Fotos
Star turn - A statuette is unceremoniously hung upside down during later stages of the cleaning process.
© Reuters
12 / 31 Fotos
Interval - Waiting its turn to be sanded and polished.
© Reuters
13 / 31 Fotos
Action! - Each statuette is placed in a vice to be individually polished.
© Reuters
14 / 31 Fotos
Polished performance - An Oscar statuette is polished and sanded by the finishing department's supervisor.
© Reuters
15 / 31 Fotos
Take one - Sanding the statuette is an intricate and time-consuming process.
© Reuters
16 / 31 Fotos
Take two - Polishing an Oscar requires patience and precision craftsmanship.
© Reuters
17 / 31 Fotos
Golden days - The next stage sees the statuettes transferred to Epner Technology to be dipped into a chemical ionized solution of gold cyanide.
© Reuters
18 / 31 Fotos
Colorful character - An ionized solution of gold cyanide gives an Oscar its distinctive color.
© Reuters
19 / 31 Fotos
It's a wrap - Shrouded in linen to avoid being marked or scratched, the statuettes are carefully unwrapped for the penultimate stage of the manufacturing process.
© Reuters
20 / 31 Fotos
In the limelight - A finished Oscar statuette sits before being mounted with a base.
© Reuters
21 / 31 Fotos
Grabbing all the attention - The statuette is inverted to receive its bronze black plating base.
© Reuters
22 / 31 Fotos
Headliner - Now looking familiar, the finished statuette is held with its bronze black plating base mounted.
© Reuters
23 / 31 Fotos
Based on a true story - Detail of the bronze black plating base of a finished Oscar statuette.
© Reuters
24 / 31 Fotos
Production values - Each finished Oscar statuette is carefully polished.
© Reuters
25 / 31 Fotos
Standing ovation - Resplendent in their color and design, the finished Oscar statuettes are ready to be delivered to Los Angeles.
© Reuters
26 / 31 Fotos
Best Actor, Best Actress - Best Actor and Best Actress Oscar statuettes packed and ready to be shipped to LA.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Scene stealer
- According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy locks extra trophies in a vault in case of theft or mishap.
© Reuters
28 / 31 Fotos
Curtain call - Oscar statuettes stand in line to be presented to lucky recipients.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
Worldwide receipts
- Miniature replica Oscar statuettes are shown for sale in a shop along Hollywood Boulevard. According to Refinery29, a real Oscar statue is worth US$629. See also: Iconic photos from Oscars past.
© Reuters
30 / 31 Fotos
The Oscar: How the iconic statuette is produced
This year's Academy Awards ceremony will see dozens of these prized figurines handed out
© Reuters
It's a night for the stars, but they're not the only ones shining. Who could miss the bling that is the Oscar statuette? It's Hollywood's most prized possession, and yet so few know the story behind how these shiny awards came to be. Have you ever wondered how they make the Oscar statuette? Well, wonder no more! Browse this gallery, read the script, and find out how they create the world's most famous figurine.
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