Lot 253: Sold by order of the administrators of Nobel

Sold by order of the administrators of Nobel Enterprises Ltd ERIK LINDBERG ( SWEDISH 1873-1966): ALFRED NOBEL a patinated bronze bust on a square base, engraved Erik Lindberg 1910 and with foundry stamp 'Herman Bergman Fud Stockholm 1913' 102.3cm; 40 1/4in high The present bust is one of two cast at the Herman Bergman foundry, the other being on display at the Nobel prize ceremonies in Stockholm. Alfred Bernhard Nobel (1833-1896) was born in Stockholm and is most famous for his pioneering work with explosives. He studied nitro-glycerine and found that when it was incorporated within an inert and absorbent substance like kieselguhr it became safer and thus more convenient to manipulate. This was patented in 1862 as dynamite. Other patents followed including gelignite or blasting gelatine amongst others. Nobel amassed an immense fortune and the bulk of this was left in trust after his death for the establishment of five prizes in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. The distribution of prizes was begun on the 10th of December 1901, the anniversary of Nobel's death. The only individual to receive prizes in more than one section has been Mme Marie Curie who was honoured in both physics and chemistry. Erik Lindberg was a medallist and sculptor who produced a number of medals for the Nobel prize and other institutions. In his lifetime he was described as 'a very able and clever artist, as shown in the execution of various medals which show a rare ability not only in regard to composition and artistic workmanship but also in the delicacy of expression and feeling of form in his modelling of the subjects.'