Ancient Egyptian bronze may have inspired Oscar design

An ancient Egyptian bronze figurine of the god Ptah, dating back 2,700 years, has sparked speculation regarding a possible connection to the design of the Oscar statuette. The piece, which depicts the creator god and master architect, is currently being showcased at Frieze Masters in London.

Antiquities dealer Rupert Wace suggests a link based on the provenance of the object. The figurine previously belonged to media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who maintained a dedicated Egyptian collection in his New York residence. Cedric Gibbons, the art director who designed the Oscar in 1928, was a close friend and frequent visitor of Hearst.

While Gibbons never explicitly confirmed his inspiration, Wace notes that the striking visual similarities and the proximity of the two men suggest the connection may be more than a coincidence. The bronze dates to the Late Period of ancient Egypt, shortly before the Achaemenid Persian conquest.