Hello! - am new to your group as hoping to increase awareness of my fathers' work - Istvan Komaromy, who described himself as a sculptor in glass. He is referred to in your forum as being "Zelezny Brod trained" (25.03.08). But as far as all the family is aware, he only ever worked for himself and was totally self-trained. He started his work as a sideline to university studies as he had to make his own glass scientific instruments for his science course but became intrigued by glass' endless capabilities. Initially, he was sponsored by his professor altho he left his academic studies unfinished. Before the war, he set up a glass unit in Budapest with his sister (still operating today and managed by my cousin with about 25 employees - artisans' craft work rather than of artistic merit). However, he never got involved with it as he was travelling widely showing his work, winning six gold and several silver medals in France, Spain, Italy and Hungary prior to marrying my mother and settling in UK. Although famous for his "dancers" (nude figurines) he also scuplted other classical figures, animals, candleabras, glasses, vases, abstract forms and complicated figure studies. He used over 200 kinds of glass (often manufactured by Pilkington's to his own recipes) and is represented (badly!) at the V& A (a male figure and Hungarian peasants sowing seeds in a field) and also the Museum for Applied Arts in Budapest.
The Telegraph & Times both carried obituaries following his death in 1975 and there was an article in 'Glass Age' August 1975 entitled: Istvan Komaromy, Pioneer of Glass Sculpture". He appeared in 2 BBC programmes and as a member here has indicated, he and his work can still be seen at:
http://www.britishpathe.com/product_display.php?Search.x=0&Search.y=0&searchword=Blow+Pipe+Art.
My intent is to have a retrospective exhibition of his work at some point so he is more widely understood and acknowledged. The family get abit upset that so very often he is confused with Bimini (for female figurines) although the differences seem quite fundamental to us! However, we were also delighted that his work was correctly identified on last years ANtiques Road Show! Best wishes, Chris Burley