In category of best Oscar stand-in ...

If you like your home -- you really, really like your home -- you’ll want to thank all the little people who can make your mantel look more distinguished. This week, when a certain statuette becomes this town’s most coveted status symbol, why not present yourself with one? After all, there are now so many awards being handed out, no one is going to know the difference. At Los Altos Trophy in Los Alamitos you can order marble and crystal monoliths created for the corporate and sporting world for $100 and up.

Though it is possible to purchase an Oscar wannabe online, any figurative piece can be a stand-in. The casting process? Look for small sculptures with iconic heads and elegantly proportioned bodies. As with any convincing performance, the right material -- precious stone or jeweler’s metals -- is crucial.

For best performance by a figurine, the nominees evoke a broad range of human qualities. Bronze has a brute strength, antique Chinese terra cotta is noble yet delicate, and a white lacquered wood piece by Picasso exhibits slickness.

For distinguished achievement by an abstract shape, there is an equally broad range of potential winners. Lucite and acrylic forms are surprisingly weighty despite their light appearance. For simplicity, an obelisk is a classical act in marble. (Extraordinary custom pieces produced in Florence can be found at www.massinellidecor.com.) Looking for a multifaceted performer? Try a loving cup, carved out of sparkling crystal.

Any way you look at it, the winner will be you.