A 2,700-year-old bronze figure of the Egyptian god Ptah attracted attention at Frieze Masters in London. Ptah was a creator god and a master architect. The figure’s appearance has led art dealer Rupert Wace to suggest that it may have influenced the design of the Oscar award.
While researching the figure’s ownership history, Wace discovered that newspaper businessman William Randolph Hearst had once owned it. Hearst was a friend of Cedric Gibbons, who designed the Oscar statuette in 1928. Gibbons regularly visited Hearst’s homes in California and New York. The New York home had a room specifically for his Egyptian collection. These connections, together with the similar appearance of the figures, form the basis of Wace’s theory. However, he acknowledges that he cannot prove it, and Gibbons never directly confirmed his inspiration.
The bronze figure was sold on the fair’s opening day, although the price was not made public. Frieze Masters ran from 14 to 18 October 2026 in London’s Regent’s Park.
