Valentine Davies Best Writing Original Story Oscar for Miracle on 34th Street....

Description

Valentine Davies Best Writing Original Story Oscar for Miracle on 34th Street. (TCF, 1947) Vintage original "Oscar" trophy awarded to Valentine Davies for "Writing Original Story" for the beloved American holiday classic starring Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, John Payne and a juvenile Natalie Wood. In the entertainment industry and the world over, the "Oscar" statuette is indisputably the most treasured and iconic symbol of the filmmaker's accomplishment and the public's romance with Hollywood glamour and movies. This vintage male "Oscar" statuette stands 12 in. tall with the cast metal, gold-plated figure measuring 3.5 in. wide by 10.25 in. tall. The beveled black base is 5.25 in. round at the bottom, tapered to 4.5 in. where the base attaches to the film reel that forms the integral foot of the metal statue. Sculptor George Stanley (who also fashioned the famous Muse Fountain at the Hollywood Bowl) sculpted Cedric Gibbons' original design in clay and Sachin Smith cast the statuette. Consisting of a pewter-like alloy called "Britannia metal", which is then plated in copper, nickel silver, and finally, 24-karat gold. The original Oscar mold was cast in 1928 at the C.W. Shumway & Sons Foundry in Batavia, Illinois. Since 1983, Oscars are fabricated each year in Chicago by Illinois manufacturer R.S. Owens & Company. A 2 x .75 in. cast brass plaque on the back foot of the base reads, "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences First Award 1947" and the engraved plaque at the front of the award base reads, "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences First Award to Valentine Davies for Writing Original Story of Miracle on 34th Street". With black felted bottom. The film won Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Gwenn), Best Writing, Original Story (Valentine Davies) and Best Writing, Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Picture, losing to Gentleman's Agreement. The statuette's finish exhibits very minor rubbing, age and some pitting and tarnish to the lower torso and legs of the figure. The black base exhibits light wear. In vintage good to very good condition. This is an early example of this instantly recognizable and world-famous prize and one of extremely few Oscars ever made available to the public.

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