Honoring Our Cultural Icons

From ancient times to the present day, gold has represented success. Kings, conquerors and captains of industry claimed it as a prize and bestowed it as a precious gift. Today gold is our symbolic reward for cultural achievements. In film and theater, in the music industry, in sports and athletics or for outstanding bravery, gold signals the ultimate reward. To claim the gold is to be, simply, the best.

The Envelope, Please …

The competition for awards kindles excitement in audiences and contenders alike. The Oscar®, Emmy® and European awards, all cast their honorees in a golden glow.

The David di Donatello Award is modeled after the Renaissance statue of David by Donatello. The gold statue, presented by the Academy of Italian Cinema, weighs approximately 1,900 grams.

David di Donatello Award
Gina Lollabrigida
Best Actress, 1955
Bulgari
18-karat gold and malachite
Rome, Italy; 1955

Gina Lollobrigida private collection

David di Donatello Award
Marilyn Monroe, 1958
Best Actress in a Foreign Film
18-karat gold
Rome, Italy; 1958

Bulgari Vintage collection

Emmy® Award
Tom Brokaw
News and Documentary, 2004
NBC's "The Death and Funeral of Ronald Wilson Reagan"
Tom Brokaw

© AMNH / Craig Chesek

And the Winner Is …

The music recording industry recognizes excellence through Gold® records and Grammys. The first Gold® record was awarded to Perry Como in 1958 for his single, "Catch a Falling Star." The first Gold® album followed shortly and was awarded to the cast of the musical Oklahoma.

Houston R&B star Beyoncé Knowles became an international celebrity as a member of the musical group Destiny's Child. The exhibition contains one of five Grammys presented to Beyoncé in 2004, tying a record for the number of Grammys awarded to a female performer.

Exact replica of a lunar module
Cartier
Yellow and white gold, lacquer, enamel

© Cartier Collection
Photo: Nick Welsh

The Thrill of Victory

Whether racing to the finish line or hurtling through space, extraordinary achievements are recognized with extraordinary trophies.

Three individual 18-karat gold models of the American lunar module were made in 1969 by the jeweler Cartier of Paris on behalf of the French newspaper Le Figaro and presented to the three Apollo 11 astronauts during their postflight tour in Paris. This model was presented to astronaut Michael Collins.