The Oscar statuette was designed in 1928 by MGM art director Cedric Gibbons and sculpted by George Stanley. The figure stands 13.5 inches (34.3 cm) tall and weighs exactly 8.5 pounds (3.8 kg). While it looks like solid gold, it is actually made of solid bronze and then plated in 24-karat gold. During the manufacturing process at the R.S. Owens & Co. factory (and currently at Polich Tallix), each statue is given a unique serial number on its base. The design features a knight holding a crusader's sword, standing on a film reel with five spokes. These spokes were intentional, representing the five original branches of the Academy: Actors, Directors, Producers, Technicians, and Writers. Despite the Academy's expansion into many other branches since 1928, the five-spoke design of the base has never been changed, serving as a permanent link to the organization's founding history.