“Oscar” is the common nickname for the Academy Award statuette. Its official name is the Academy Award of Merit, the trophy presented to winners of the Academy Awards.
The statuette depicts a stylized knight holding a sword while standing on a reel of film. Its five spokes represent the Academy’s original branches: actors, writers, directors, producers, and technicians. The design was created by art director Cedric Gibbons and sculpted by George Stanley.
The modern figure is about 13.5 inches tall and weighs roughly 8.5 pounds. It is made from a metal alloy and finished with 24-karat gold plating. During World War II, metal shortages led the Academy to issue plaster statuettes for three years; recipients could later exchange them for metal versions.
The nickname’s origin remains disputed. Margaret Herrick, Bette Davis, and Academy executive Bruce Davis have each been associated with competing explanations. The uncertainty concerns who popularized the name, not what the trophy is commonly called. “Tony,” “Grammy,” and “Emmy” are nicknames for awards in other entertainment fields.