The Academy Awards are arguably the most important film honor in the world. Every year, actors, directors, producers and other industry professionals compete for the coveted prize, which represents an important milestone in the career of anyone who has to do with cinema.
Ma how much is it worth in money the famous golden statuette that is given to the winners?
In this article, we will try to find out the answer together.
The cost of manufacturing the Oscar statuette
First, it must be said that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that manages the Academy Awards, does not sell the figurines to third parties. Furthermore, the production of the figurines is entrusted to a specialized company, the Polich Tallix Fine Art Foundry.
According to Polich Tallix herself, the cost of producing a single statuette fluctuates between $ 400 and $ 500. It must be taken into consideration that each figurine weighs approximately 3,8 kilograms and measures 34 centimeters in height.
However, the value of an Oscar statuette goes far beyond its cost of production.
How is the Oscar statuette made up?
Contrary to what many think, the Oscar statuette is not made of solid gold, but rather is composed of bronze, which is exclusively 24 karat gold plated.
So the cost, and the weight, are significantly lower compared to an all-gold statuette.
The measurements of the statuette are as follows: it is 34,3 cm high and weighs 3856 grams, just under 4 kilos.
A little curiosity: due to the scarcity of materials due to war, for three years the statuette it was produced exclusively in plaster painted gold, there was no trace of the fine metal.
The symbolic value of the Oscar
For artists and film professionals, receive a Oscar Prize represents one of the greatest career milestones. The figurine is therefore a symbol of recognition and success, which cannot be quantified in money.
Furthermore, the fact that the statuette is not for sale makes its symbolic value even more precious. Receiving an Oscar means being chosen from thousands of nominees and judged to be the best in your field.
The collectible value of the Oscar
Although the statuette is not for sale, over the years some Academy Awards were sold at exorbitant prices. In particular, the figurines from the 30s and 40s are highly sought after by collectors, since they were produced in a limited edition and have some differences from the current figurines.
In 2011, for example, the Oscar won by Orson Welles in 1941 for the screenplay of Citizen Kane it sold at auction for more than $800.000. In 1999, however, the Oscar won by Vivien Leigh in 1940 for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind" it sold for $563.500.
However, the sale of a Oscar Prize is considered illegal by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which reserves the right to repurchase the statuette for the price of 1 dollar.
Although the production cost of an Oscar statuette is relatively low, its symbolic and collectible value make it an object of inestimable value for artists and film professionals.
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