What is an Oscar statue made of starts in the foundry. Technicians pour molten bronze into ceramic molds created through a lost-wax casting process at Polich Tallix in New York.

Each cast emerges as a heavy bronze figure — the structural core of what is an Oscar statue made of today. Artisans grind seams and chase fine detail before any gold touches the surface.

Electroplating deposits a 24-karat gold layer onto the bronze body. What is an Oscar statue made of visually is that warm mirror shine — but the gold coating is microns thick over solid metal.

Gloved artisans polish every surface before lacquer seals the finish. What is an Oscar statue made of includes this human touch — no mass-production line builds each year's winner trophies.

Official specs call for 13.5 inches tall and roughly 8.5 pounds. Inspectors verify weight and plating before shipment — the final gate in what is an Oscar statue made of production.