If I remember correctly, Jiri was the first student from Czechoslovakia to study at the RCA under Sam Herman, at a time when it was not possible for Czech artists to physically work with hot glass themselves, as opposed to directing factory workers.
In our Czech glass exhibition in Piccadilly around 1985 we showed his work to great acclaim and one of his seated figures was purchased by CMOG.
Please do give him my best regards when you see him, Jindrich