A work of art in the form of a diploma

Each Nobel Prize diploma is a unique work of art where the design is decided by the prize-awarding bodies. The literature diploma is written on parchment, i.e. specially treated leather, using largely the same technique as those of medieval book illustrators. The diplomas given to the other laureates are produced on specially ordered handmade paper.

All Nobel Prize diplomas 2023

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1 (of 11)

Artist: Elisabeth Biström Calligrapher: Marie Györi Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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2 (of 11)

Artist: Elisabeth Biström Calligrapher: Marie Györi Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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3 (of 11)

Artist: Elisabeth Biström Calligrapher: Marie Györi Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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4 (of 11)

Artist: Lars Eje Larsson Calligrapher: Marianne Pettersson Soold Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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5 (of 11)

Artist: Lars Eje Larsson Calligrapher: Marianne Pettersson Soold Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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6 (of 11)

Artist: Lars Eje Larsson Calligrapher: Marianne Pettersson Soold Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

Katalin Karikó - Nobel Prize diploma.jpg

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7 (of 11)

Calligrapher: Susan Duvnäs Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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8 (of 11)

Calligrapher: Susan Duvnäs Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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9 (of 11)

Calligrapher: Susan Duvnäs Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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10 (of 11)

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11 (of 11)

Artist: Anja Richardt Krabbe Calligrapher: Marie A. Györi Book binder: Leonard Gustafssons Bokbinderi AB Photo reproduction: Dan Lepp © The Nobel Foundation 2023

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The artistic design of the diplomas has varied over the years, but the text has always followed the same pattern in the Swedish and Norwegian languages, respectively. The “Swedish” diplomas largely carry the same text, stating the person or persons to whom the prize-awarding body has decided to present the year’s prize plus a citation explaining why. The Norwegian diploma, on the other hand, has never included a prize citation.

The Nobel relief on the physiology or medicine diploma is made of leather, attached to the diploma. After extensive preparations, the bookbinder then mounts the diploma in a leather cover made of the highest quality goatskin. Nowadays the physics diplomas are mounted in a dark blue leather cover, chemistry in red, physiology or medicine in burgunday, economic sciences in dark brown and literature in blue. In addition, the calligraphers have designed special gold monograms for each of the laureates on the outside of the diplomas, which are also found on the boxes in which the diplomas rest. These diploma boxes are all made of gray woven paperboard, lined inside with pigskin suede. The size of the Nobel Prize diploma is 23 x 35 cms.

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1 (of 3) David J. Thouless - Nobel Prize diploma

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2 (of 3) Theodor W. Hänsch - Nobel Prize diploma

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3 (of 3) Eric Cornell - Nobel Prize diploma

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The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is responsible for the physics (examples above) and chemistry (examples below) diplomas, and since 1969 also for the economic sciences diploma. The diplomas are very often characterized by an annual theme – birds, flowers, vases etc. – rather than an individual design referring to the laureates. Since 1988, the diplomas from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences have been hand-lettered by the well-known calligrapher Annika Rücker.

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1 (of 3) Kurt Wüthrich - Nobel Prize diploma

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2 (of 3) Jacques Dubochet - Nobel Prize diploma

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3 (of 3) Tomas Lindahl - Nobel Prize diploma

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The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet is responsible for the physiology or medicine diploma. During the years 1901-1964, the physiology or medicine diplomas were decorated with art works. Since 1965 the artistic decoration of the physiology or medicine diplomas has consisted of a gold medal in relief and a handsome calligraphic text that since 1990 have been hand-lettered by the calligrapher Susan Duvnäs.

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1 (of 3) Elizabeth H. Blackburn - Nobel Prize diploma

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2 (of 3) Tu Youyou - Nobel Prize diploma

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3 (of 3) Yoshinori Ohsumi - Nobel Prize diploma

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The Swedish Academy is responsible for the design of the literature diploma and they have almost always used individual designs related to each laureate. The artists have tried to summarize something of the atmosphere and character of each author’s works. Since the laureates are not announced until mid-October and the diplomas must be ready before 10 December, the diploma artist has only a few weeks to summarize the collected works or personal attributes of each author. Since 2017 the literature diploma consists of a gold medal in relief and calligraphic text.

In 1986, the first African to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature was Wole Soyinka of Nigeria. His diploma imparts a genuine feeling of throbbing rhythms, magic rites and the struggle for liberation.

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1 (of 3) Doris Lessing - Nobel Prize diploma

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2 (of 3) Mario Vargas Llosa - Nobel Prize diploma

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3 (of 3) Bob Dylan - Nobel Prize diploma

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The Norwegian Nobel Committee is responsible for the design of the diploma presented to the laureates of the peace prize. Until 1990, the Norwegian diplomas were individually designed related to each laureate.

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1 (of 3) National Dialogue Quartet - Nobel Prize diploma

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2 (of 3) Kofi Annan - Nobel Prize diploma

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3 (of 3) Muhammad Yunus - Nobel Prize diploma

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Register of artists and calligraphers

Here you can find a complete register of all the artists and calligraphers.
See the register (pdf)

"I feel a certain eagerness"

Elisabeth Biström about creating the artwork on the Nobel Prize diplomas.
"Every diploma should be unique"

Marie Göyri has been creating the calligraphy for the diplomas for six years.
A unique gold medal

Since 1901, the Nobel Prize medals have been part of many remarkable stories.