As far as material goes, it could be printed using Shapeways in all kinds of stuff. Plastic probably isn't the best, but I could totally imagine this as a 3D printed metal decoration, like stainless steel of some kind, with a shine to it.

It took me most of the day. I'm visiting family and tomorrow we're holding a big party for their boy, so they were all busy doing stuff we couldn't help with, and left us to our affairs, so I decided I'd make a model for SelfCAD's competition :)