September 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, September 25th, 5pm Pacific

1935 Mini Academy Award Statue Made by Columbia Pictures

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/25/2014

Rare miniature Academy Award issued by Columbia Pictures Corporation in 1935, when the film ''It Happened One Night'' became the first motion picture to win the ''Big Five'' major Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Columbia's longtime president Harry Cohn is thought to have conceived of the idea of issuing miniature Oscars, which he used at table toppers at the awards ceremony. This Oscar measures 6'' tall, stands on a metal base, is finished with a gold wash, and is an exact facsimile of its namesake. An engraved brass plaque on the front reads: ''Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences / First Award / Columbia Pictures for the Best Picture of the Year'' and on the back, a similar brass plaque reads, ''15th Anniversary / Columbia Pictures / 1920-1933''. These period Oscar statues, manufactured by Gorham & Co., are becoming increasingly rare with only a handful ever reaching the public. Weighs just over 11 ounces. Chipping to the finish on base, rubbing to gold finish and repair to bottom of figure from a previous break common to this piece. Overall in very good condition.