In photos: 'The Making of an Oscar statuette'

Molten britannia, a high grade pewter alloy, is poured into a mold to form an Oscar statuette by Anaceleto Medina at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Anaceleto Medina cracks a mold containing a britannia Oscar statuette manufactuted at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Brittannia Oscar statuettes lie on a workbench after being removed from the mold at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Anaceleto Medina inspects a britannia Oscar statuette after removing it from the mold at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

A brittannia Oscar statuette is polished by Abimael Sanchez during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Manual Nunez uses compressed air to dry off an Oscar statuette after nickel plating it during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

An Oscar statuette is removed from the gold electro-plating tank during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 24 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

A gold plated brittannia Oscar statuette is polished by Alvaro Landa during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Oscar statuettes await final polishing after being gold plated during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 (34,29 cm) inches tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

An Oscar statuette is removed from the gold electro-plating tank during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

An Oscar statuette is removed from the gold electro-plating tank by Manual Nunez during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 24 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

An Oscar statuette awaits final polishing after being gold plated during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

The official label of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is attached to an Oscar statuette base at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Oscar statuettes await final polishing after being gold plated during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Bertha Fuentes places a gold plated Oscar statuettes in a protective bag after attaching it to its base during the manufacturing process at R.S. Owens in Chicago, Illinois, USA 23 January 2008. The Oscar, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is plated with copper, nickel and finally gold. It stands 13 1/2 inches (34,29 cm) tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds (3,85 kg) and has been presented for outstanding work in the motion picture industry since 1929 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Oscar statuettes have been produced at R.S. Owens since 1983. This year's Oscars are scheduled to be presented at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, USA on 24 February. EPA/TANNEN MAURY