Sepy Dobronyi
Encyclopedia
Baron Joseph "Sepy" De Bicske Dobronyi (April 20, 1922 - May 29, 2010) Hungarian-born sculptor and royal crown jeweler, aristocrat
, art collector, world traveler, movie maker, pilot
, wine collector, sportsman, playboy
, and bon vivant. Sepy, as he became known, was the artist and jeweler whose name had been familiar in international society and movie circles as well as the art crowd.
Baron Sepy was world renowned for his bronze
and gold
sculptures of famous celebrities such as the controversial 42"inch tall Golden Statue, of movie star Anita Ekberg
who posed for him and gained recognition worldwide. "The Ekberg Bronze", was featured in the August 1956 issue of Playboy
magazine by Hugh Hefner
, a friend of Sepy.
, Hungary
, on April 20, 1922. His parents were selected to be the crown jewelers to the Royal House
of Hungary dating back as far as the 15th Century. The Dobronyi family ancestors trace back to 1414, when they constructed their castle
. In 1585, the family was bestowed with the title, "Baron
". The Hungarian-born Dobronyi's title is a hereditary one bestowed by the King in 1540, when one of Dobronyi's ancestors, who had a private army, routed the Turks from Hungary
after 150 years of occupation.
, riding
, familiarizing himself to his countryside, and traveling all over Europe
.
Dobronyi's grandfather was an owner of a vineyard in the hills, where his family would often visit. The young Baron would explore and watch over his grandfather's wine house and cellar.
, had served as a pilot in the Hungarian Air Force
. He specialized in transporting the wounded to hospitals from the front lines for the Red Cross. Joseph was one of six pilots chosen to try out the world's first Rocket-powered aircraft
. In 1945, he was captured by the Russians
, after his airplane was shot down in flames over Hungary and escaped by parachute
. Dobronyi was held in prison in occupied Hungary but managed to escape in one day and immediately returned to Budapest
.
, where his talent of speaking six languages were useful. He spoke Hungarian
, French
, English
, German
, Swedish
and Spanish
. By 1946, Dobronyi had been refused a passport, so he decided to leave the country and headed to Sweden to visit some friends of the family who were living there. It took him six months to walk from Budapest
to Sweden
. Since he did not have a visa
or papers it was a challenge to travel through dangerous occupied territory including Denmark
.
Six months later, he wandered into Stockholm
and started an apprenticeship at the House of Thomason, crown jewelers for the Swedish Royal Family
. There Dobronyi studied wood
and metal
working, ceramics, and sketch
ing. By 1947, he was selected to execute the design of the brooch that Folke Bernadotte
gave to Princess Elizabeth
on the occasion of her engagement to Prince Phillip.
At this time, an offer was presented by the King Gustaf V of Sweden
to Dobronyi to travel to Caracas, Venezuela, which he accepted, in order to leave Europe and venture out on his own.He boarded a plane, on New Year's Eve 1947, where his final destination was not reached due to a layover in Havana, Cuba. Dobronyi with only $150.00, his suitcase and the suit on his back had the urge to have an epic New Year's Eve decided to stay in Cuba. Since the Caracas contract was never signed, Dobronyi searched for a job and was able to find work in a jeweler's shop. This job enabled him not only to survive to start saving in order to purchase his own tools. Gradually he began designing his own ideas, and working on them in his apartment after hours. His dedication and love for the arts proved fruitful as he started to build up a clientele and within a year he was able to fund his own studio. He incorporated his European style, and with his elegant and original approach to his designs, and the attraction from the Cuban society
proved successful. Each work was signed with his trademark
signature, "Sepy". His clientele included American
tourists and people in the entertainment
industry
as well as the local Cuban society. In just a few years, his studio became the mecca for celebrities such as Ernest Hemingway
, Errol Flynn
, and Nat King Cole
to name a few. A necklace of shells in a net design was made for Mary Welsh Hemingway
,, who personally requested it. This brought more American customers to Dobronyi as well, as publicity for his studio with the magazines and newspapers
in the U.S. .
During this time, Dobronyi's studio was doing very well, and the reputation he had with society was positive, he was able to take some time to dedicate to his first childhood fascination, African sculpture. He had always found time for his carvings throughout the years, and in the 1970s he made five expeditions to New Guinea
in search of Asmat
art. While he resided in Cuba, he came across old African Native Art with this his art became known as Afro-Cuban Sculpture. Dobronyi was welcomed into the secret ritual dances and festivals of the Namigos, who were the Afro-Cuban group of natives. This was an honor to be welcomed into these ceremonies as they were more secret than any of the other South American Tribe
s.
Ernett C. Choate. The Federal Building
held a pre-holiday session and this was a very special day for the Baron as it had been a goal of his ever since the days of World War II.
, whom Sepy met at a Los Angeles art gallery exhibit of primitives, when she was herself unknown; Ava Gardner
; Brigitte Bardot
; and Linda Christian
. He became intrigued by the many FOB skeleton keys and would display them in his wine cellar, at his home in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. Dobronyi was very fond of mountain climbing with heights of not only the toughest mountain to reach, but also with the reputation of a peak that rises to the altitude of 20,000 feet Mount Kilimanjaro
. Dobronyi is photographed while he was placing the [Florida Flag] on the top of the mountain. The journey is a test of one's endurance and traveling one foot on front of the other foot instead of ropes and pitons. It took five days to cross the jumble of rocks that lies between the green coffee plantations of the lower slopes and the vast volcanic crater with its cone within a cone. Dobronyi also climbed the Matterhorn
.
s from the Near and far East. Ancient arms and armor displayed on the walls of his home/studio, along with animal skins.
into the Americas
. During his travels to Bali, the locals would bowed down to him as if he was king. He had visited Bali over 25 times and would stay in the presidential suite at the hotel for weeks at a time.
, to observe a primitive
tribal war. He explored the depths of the jungle and purchased many pieces from the natives as he lived with them and followed their customs. During his visit in the summer of 1974, he was injured with a arrow through his leg. With the care of the natives, he recovered within three days and continued his studies of wood carvings.
point blank.
Dobronyi's trademark while living in Cuba, was a pocket full of shark's teeth which he passed out to the girls of his choice. Over 600 females are a member of the Shark tooth club.
which was the hangout for the jet-setters of that era. In 1951, Dobronyi convince owner Angel Martinez to convert his store into a tavern. There he became the hub of not only the art community but also of the social cirlces. Close friends were Ernest and Mary Hemingway
, Hugh Hefner
, Nat King Cole
John Wayne
and Errol Flynn
to name a few.
, archaeology
, anthropology
and other related sciences through expeditions, field trips and research projects. The Society actively supports programs for the protection of the environment
, the conservation of wildlife, and the preservation of archaelogical and historic sites.
and Produced by Bill Grauer Productions, Inc, New York, 1957.
The home was built with the intention to be used as a gallery for the display of other artists works. Hanging rail for paintings extend along the walls of the two story main living area. There is a small sitting room several steps down from it with a sofa forming an arch around the fireplace. Beyond the great cone-shaped copper hood of fireplace is Dobronyi's workshop.
on May 29, 2010, at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach at age 88.
The estate has been auctioned on Ebay
and other auction
houses which included exotic
pieces of history
. Items in the estate included a sea serpent
Viking
ship by shipbuilder Bill Sjogren from Norway
, artifacts from Bali
, a dragon-headed gong stand from Tibet
. Sculptures and jewelry Sepy crafted, as well as antique Chinese
drum, a diminutive Balinese
door made into a distinctive table, Cuban
furniture, and his Asmat
art from expeditions to New Guinea
, once considered the largest private collection.
The item that got the most attention since Dobronyi's death was the 40-something-year old underwear of Queen Elizabeth II. The Miami Herald reports that the story of the Royal panties has circled the web and print magazines, after their sale was first reported by celebrity news website TMZ.com
. Louis F. Cruz who markets and manages the estate sale, believes that the Queen's undergarments are authentic.
As the story goes, Dobronyi got them from a friend after they were left on a private plane when the Queen visited Chile in 1968. Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers, the same auction house that handled the sale of Queen Victoria's undergarments back in 2008 contacted the estate and expressed their interest in handling the sale.
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
, art collector, world traveler, movie maker, pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, wine collector, sportsman, playboy
Playboy (lifestyle)
A playboy is a modern version of a public Casanova — a man of means with ample time for leisure, who demonstratively appreciates the pleasures of the world.The term has also been applied to a flashy womanizer, such as a player, pappagallo, or Don Juan....
, and bon vivant. Sepy, as he became known, was the artist and jeweler whose name had been familiar in international society and movie circles as well as the art crowd.
Baron Sepy was world renowned for his bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
sculptures of famous celebrities such as the controversial 42"inch tall Golden Statue, of movie star Anita Ekberg
Anita Ekberg
Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg is a Swedish model, actress and cult sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita which features the legendary scene of her cavorting in Trevi Fountain alongside Marcello Mastroianni.-Biography:Ekberg was born in...
who posed for him and gained recognition worldwide. "The Ekberg Bronze", was featured in the August 1956 issue of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine by Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
, a friend of Sepy.
Early life
Joseph De Bicske Dobronyi was born to József Dobronyi and Szidónia Petric, in the town of BicskeBicske
Bicske is a town in Fejér county, Hungary.-History:According to a document dating from 1306, Botond’s sons János and Péter were granted the permission to levy toll in the locality of Bicske as well. Bicske was written Bykche, Biccke, Bykcze, Biczke, Bitske ...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, on April 20, 1922. His parents were selected to be the crown jewelers to the Royal House
Royal House
A royal house or royal dynasty consists of at least one, but usually more monarchs who are related to one another, as well as their non-reigning descendants and spouses. Monarchs of the same realm who are not related to one another are usually deemed to belong to different houses, and each house is...
of Hungary dating back as far as the 15th Century. The Dobronyi family ancestors trace back to 1414, when they constructed their castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
. In 1585, the family was bestowed with the title, "Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
". The Hungarian-born Dobronyi's title is a hereditary one bestowed by the King in 1540, when one of Dobronyi's ancestors, who had a private army, routed the Turks from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
after 150 years of occupation.
Childhood
Dobronyi was raised by his mother, as he lost his father in the war, at an early age. His childhood consisted of huntingHunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, familiarizing himself to his countryside, and traveling all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Dobronyi's grandfather was an owner of a vineyard in the hills, where his family would often visit. The young Baron would explore and watch over his grandfather's wine house and cellar.
World War II
In 1940, Dobronyi was drafted into World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, had served as a pilot in the Hungarian Air Force
Hungarian Air Force
The Hungarian Air Force is the air force branch of the Hungarian Army.- 1918 to Pre–World War II :Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, a small air arm was established operating surviving aircraft from Hungarian factories and training schools...
. He specialized in transporting the wounded to hospitals from the front lines for the Red Cross. Joseph was one of six pilots chosen to try out the world's first Rocket-powered aircraft
Rocket-powered aircraft
A rocket-powered aircraft or rocket plane is an aircraft that uses a rocket for propulsion, sometimes in addition to airbreathing jet engines. Rocket planes can achieve much higher speeds than similarly sized jet aircraft, but typically for at most a few minutes of powered operation, followed by a...
. In 1945, he was captured by the Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, after his airplane was shot down in flames over Hungary and escaped by parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
. Dobronyi was held in prison in occupied Hungary but managed to escape in one day and immediately returned to Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
.
Europe to Cuba
Hiding out for a few months, he managed to earn a living by working odd jobs. He obtained a job as an interpreter for the American Military Mission, also known as Diplomatic missionDiplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
, where his talent of speaking six languages were useful. He spoke Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. By 1946, Dobronyi had been refused a passport, so he decided to leave the country and headed to Sweden to visit some friends of the family who were living there. It took him six months to walk from Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Since he did not have a visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
or papers it was a challenge to travel through dangerous occupied territory including Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Six months later, he wandered into Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and started an apprenticeship at the House of Thomason, crown jewelers for the Swedish Royal Family
Swedish Royal Family
The Swedish Royal Family since 1818 consists of a number of persons in the Swedish Royal House of Bernadotte, closely related to the King of Sweden. They are entitled to royal titles and style , and some perform official engagements and ceremonial duties of state...
. There Dobronyi studied wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
and metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
working, ceramics, and sketch
Sketch (drawing)
A sketch is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not usually intended as a finished work...
ing. By 1947, he was selected to execute the design of the brooch that Folke Bernadotte
Folke Bernadotte
Folke Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg was a Swedish diplomat and nobleman noted for his negotiation of the release of about 31,000 prisoners from German concentration camps during World War II, including 450 Danish Jews from Theresienstadt released on 14 April 1945...
gave to Princess Elizabeth
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on the occasion of her engagement to Prince Phillip.
At this time, an offer was presented by the King Gustaf V of Sweden
Gustaf V of Sweden
Gustaf V was King of Sweden from 1907. He was the eldest son of King Oscar II of Sweden and Sophia of Nassau, a half-sister of Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg...
to Dobronyi to travel to Caracas, Venezuela, which he accepted, in order to leave Europe and venture out on his own.He boarded a plane, on New Year's Eve 1947, where his final destination was not reached due to a layover in Havana, Cuba. Dobronyi with only $150.00, his suitcase and the suit on his back had the urge to have an epic New Year's Eve decided to stay in Cuba. Since the Caracas contract was never signed, Dobronyi searched for a job and was able to find work in a jeweler's shop. This job enabled him not only to survive to start saving in order to purchase his own tools. Gradually he began designing his own ideas, and working on them in his apartment after hours. His dedication and love for the arts proved fruitful as he started to build up a clientele and within a year he was able to fund his own studio. He incorporated his European style, and with his elegant and original approach to his designs, and the attraction from the Cuban society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
proved successful. Each work was signed with his trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
signature, "Sepy". His clientele included American
Americans
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
tourists and people in the entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
as well as the local Cuban society. In just a few years, his studio became the mecca for celebrities such as Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
, Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
, and Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
to name a few. A necklace of shells in a net design was made for Mary Welsh Hemingway
Mary Welsh Hemingway
Mary Welsh Hemingway was an American journalist and the fourth wife of Ernest Hemingway.Born in Minnesota, Welsh was a daughter of a lumberman. When she was 32, she married Lawrence Miller Cook, a drama student from Ohio. Their life together was short and they soon separated...
,, who personally requested it. This brought more American customers to Dobronyi as well, as publicity for his studio with the magazines and newspapers
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
in the U.S. .
During this time, Dobronyi's studio was doing very well, and the reputation he had with society was positive, he was able to take some time to dedicate to his first childhood fascination, African sculpture. He had always found time for his carvings throughout the years, and in the 1970s he made five expeditions to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
in search of Asmat
Asmat people
The Asmat are an ethnic group of New Guinea, residing in the Papua province of Indonesia. Possessing one of the most well-known and vibrant woodcarving traditions in the Pacific, their art is sought by collectors worldwide...
art. While he resided in Cuba, he came across old African Native Art with this his art became known as Afro-Cuban Sculpture. Dobronyi was welcomed into the secret ritual dances and festivals of the Namigos, who were the Afro-Cuban group of natives. This was an honor to be welcomed into these ceremonies as they were more secret than any of the other South American Tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
s.
Cuba to America
Dobronyi came to the United States in 1959. On December 20, 1963, 40 year old Dobronyi, who had citizenship in Hungary, Sweden and Cuba, was sworn in a federal courtroom, as a United States citizen by JudgeJudge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
Ernett C. Choate. The Federal Building
Federal Building
A federal building refers to government building built to host the regional offices of various government departments and agencies in countries with a federal system, especially when the central government is referred to as the "federal government".- Canada :...
held a pre-holiday session and this was a very special day for the Baron as it had been a goal of his ever since the days of World War II.
Romantic Relationships
Dobronyi claimed romantic involvements with celebrities and personalities, including Anita EkbergAnita Ekberg
Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg is a Swedish model, actress and cult sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita which features the legendary scene of her cavorting in Trevi Fountain alongside Marcello Mastroianni.-Biography:Ekberg was born in...
, whom Sepy met at a Los Angeles art gallery exhibit of primitives, when she was herself unknown; Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner
Ava Lavinia Gardner was an American actress.She was signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers . She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses, considered one of the most beautiful women of her day...
; Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
; and Linda Christian
Linda Christian
Linda Christian was a Mexican movie actress, who appeared in Mexican and Hollywood films. Her career reached its peak in the 1940s and 1950s. She played Mara in the last Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan film Tarzan and The Mermaids...
Marriages
- Alicia Hartman y Portela (5 June 1953 – 17 May 1960) (divorced)Daughter of Walter Hartman, owner of the first ChryslerChryslerChrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
car dealership in Cuba - Amy Green Brown (8 August 1960 – 19 July 1969) (divorced) New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
heiress, Norgin Hewiee Green of New York - Annette Nordquist (1969–1972) (divorced)
- In 1969, Dobronyi married third wife Anette Nordquist, a statuesque Swedish blonde. Two years later, the Herald reported that at 8:12 a.m. on July 1, 1971, Dobronyi became the first person in Miami to file for a no-fault dissolution under a revised state divorce law effective at midnight.
- Playboy BunnyPlayboy BunnyA Playboy Bunny is a waitress at the Playboy Club. The Playboy Clubs were originally open from 1960 to 1988. The Club re-opened in one location in The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas in 2006...
Rita Lino (9 May 1977–1983) (divorced) - Eszter Anderson (5 October 1999–2002) (divorced)
- Playboy Bunny
Children
- Joseph (26 April 1961 ) (born Joseph Bicskei Dobronyi Jr.) — with Amy Green Brown Dobronyi
- Ferenc (22 September 1962) (born Ferenc Norvin Dobronyi) — with Amy Green Brown Dobronyi
Jeweler
- "Emerald and Diamond Peacock Brooch for Princess ElizabethElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, (Sepy)" (1947), SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
- Among Dobronyi's accomplishments is a $15,000 emerald and diamond peacock brooch, which Prince Carl Bernadotte of Sweden presented to Princess ElizabethElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
upon her engagement to Prince Phillip.- "Ring Miniature of St Edward's Crown for Princess ElizabethElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, (Sepy)" (1947), SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
- "Ring Miniature of St Edward's Crown for Princess Elizabeth
- In 1947, Dobronyi was commissioned by Count Folke BernadotteFolke BernadotteFolke Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg was a Swedish diplomat and nobleman noted for his negotiation of the release of about 31,000 prisoners from German concentration camps during World War II, including 450 Danish Jews from Theresienstadt released on 14 April 1945...
, to make a wedding present for Princess ElizabethElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, as she was then. He worked for six months making a ring in the form of a miniature St Edward's Crown. Each ruby, diamond and pearl was an exact miniature of the original.- "Platinum and Gold Diamond-Crusted Pendant, (Sepy)", Havana, CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
- "Platinum and Gold Diamond-Crusted Pendant, (Sepy)", Havana, Cuba
- Sold for $1,100 and now is displayed in Havana at the Cuban Art Center. A woman had seen the pendant and had liked it but did not have the money to purchase it, so Dobronyi told her to take it. He lost track of her for about six months, and then a check arrived.
- "Diamond Earrings, (Sepy)"
- Featured on model in the issue of Harper's BazaarHarper's BazaarHarper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
, January 1954 in the article, 'Flying Down to Cuba'.- "Sun Goddess Bracelet, (Sepy)"
- Featured on Royal Blend by Coppertone, a suntan lotionSuntan lotionSuntan lotion can refer to:*Indoor tanning lotion, used to increase tanning*Sunscreen, used to decrease tanning and prevent sunburn...
ad in the June 1963 issue of VogueVogue (magazine)Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
.- "Ring for Lena Horne, (Sepy)" (1953), Havana, CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
- "Ring for Lena Horne, (Sepy)" (1953), Havana, Cuba
- World-famous singer, Lena HorneLena HorneLena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
, requested an exotic ring to be designed that was especially designed for spot-lights. Horne and Dobronyi arranged a meeting at La Bodeguita del medioBodeguita del medioLa Bodeguita del Medio is a typical restaurant-bar of Havana . It is very famous and touristy for the personalities that have patronized it: Salvador Allende, the poet Pablo Neruda, the writer Ernest Hemingway, the artist Josignacio and many others...
were the ring was unveiled, as he described all the advantages the ring was designed to have.
The Ekberg Bronze
- "The Ekberg Bronze, (Sepy)" (1956), HavanaHavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
- Dobronyi's nude of the statuesque Anita EkbergAnita EkbergKerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg is a Swedish model, actress and cult sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita which features the legendary scene of her cavorting in Trevi Fountain alongside Marcello Mastroianni.-Biography:Ekberg was born in...
which was featured in PlayboyPlayboyPlayboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine, August 1956 issue. Dobronyi thought up an experimentExperimentAn experiment is a methodical procedure carried out with the goal of verifying, falsifying, or establishing the validity of a hypothesis. Experiments vary greatly in their goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results...
in melting goldGoldGold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
on bronzeBronzeBronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
and three months later he completed his 35" inch high, 40-pound Ekberg statue. It is a very realistic statue that spread his fame throughout Cuba. The controversial gold and bronze statuette was sold to a "private museum in Norway" for an undisclosed price on November 28, 1958. It is later told that Dobronyi earned $12,000 for the golden nude. Some of this money came from the sale of reproduction rights to a magazine; part from subsequent exhibition fee: part, finally, from the sale of the statuette to the National MuseumNational museumA national museum is a museum maintained by a nation.The following is a list of national museums:-Australia:*Australian National Aviation Museum*Australian National Maritime Museum*, Sydney*Australian War Memorial*Museum Victoria...
in OsloOsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, through a well-known collector.
The Golden Virgin
- "The Golden Virgin, (Sepy)" (1962), HavanaHavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
- The Golden Virgin, was the latest nude creation, a statue which will join the ranks of such stellar sculptings as Jayne MansfieldJayne MansfieldJayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
, Ava GardnerAva GardnerAva Lavinia Gardner was an American actress.She was signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers . She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses, considered one of the most beautiful women of her day...
, Bridgette Bardotand Anita EkbergAnita EkbergKerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg is a Swedish model, actress and cult sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita which features the legendary scene of her cavorting in Trevi Fountain alongside Marcello Mastroianni.-Biography:Ekberg was born in...
Sepy's candidates for his "Hall of Beauty" were based on personality rather than measurements. His subjects from a wide personal knowledge of famous stars and models. Didi Roberts was the model for the Golden Virgin at the age of 25. She had appeared on television and in motion pictures such as The Eddy Duchin StoryThe Eddy Duchin StoryThe Eddy Duchin Story is a 1956 biopic of band leader and pianist Eddy Duchin. It was directed by George Sidney-helmed film, written by Samuel A. Taylor, and starred Tyrone Power and Kim Novak. The musical soundtrack recording, imitating Duchin's style, was performed by pianist Carmen Cavallaro....
and Solid Gold CadillacSolid Gold CadillacSolid Gold Cadillac was a British jazz-rock group set up in the early 1970s.The band featured, variously, Roy Babbington , Mike Westbrook , Fi Trench , Chris Spedding , Brian Godding , Rick Morcombe , Malcolm Griffiths , Phil Minton , George Khan , Butch Potter and Alan Jackson...
. - Following an exciting reception of Dobronyi's newest nude statue in New York City, Columbia PicturesColumbia PicturesColumbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, who was at the time releasing a movie entitled "The Golden Virgin", approached Sepy with an offer to buy this latest creation. The statue was purchased for an undisclosed amount of money by Columbia Pictures in order to aid in its promotion of the movie, starring Joan CrawfordJoan CrawfordJoan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
and Rossano BrazziRossano Brazzi-Biography:Brazzi was born in Bologna to Adelmo and Maria Brazzi. He attended San Marco University in Florence, Italy, where he was raised from the age of four...
. Sepy at the time was a resident of Havana, Cuba, had been his own gold supplier for his famous Gallery of Beauties. He had discovered sunken Spanish ships with buried treasure while diving in the sea around Cuba. The treasure hunt was very successful. Dobronyi located thirty-five sunken galleons and managed to salvage £50,000-worth of gold doubloons.
Lithe Nymphet Beverly
- "Lithe Nymphet Beverly, (Sepy)" (1958), HavanaHavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
- Commissioned by Errol FlynnErrol FlynnErrol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
assisted in the talent scout of this gold-plated nude, Beverly AadlandBeverly AadlandBeverly Elaine Aadland was an American film actress.She appeared in films including South Pacific. As a teenager, she co-starred Errol Flynn's Cuban Rebel Girls and had been considered for the role of Lolita, opposite Flynn in a planned production of Lolita, although it was James Mason who was...
when she was 17. This was an 18" reclining figure which Flynn displayed in his home in Jamaica. It sold for $5000.00
The Birds
- "The Birds (Sepy)" (1963), Coconut Grove, Florida
- In 1963, Dobronyi was working on assignment for Alfred HitchcockAlfred HitchcockSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
fashioning a three-foot high piece of art, done entirely in sterling silverSterling silverSterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
with the design of 200 tiny birds in a spiral.
The Cosmopolitan Primitive
- "The Cosmopolitan Primitive (Sepy)" (1956), New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New York
- In Cuba, Sepy combined his early African passion with the equally exciting Cuban rhythm of life. With the innate taste and his own talent he has used the primitive African approach to art and has brought his own feelings and sensitivity to the carving of figures in the true tribal approval. His collection, The Cosmopolitan Primitive, was displayed by Gene MooreGene Moore (window dresser)Gene Moore was a leading window dresser of the 20th century. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, he moved to New York City in the 1930s. He worked for Bonwit Teller for sixteen years, then in 1955 joined Tiffany's on Fifth Avenue. He remained with the store for the remainder of his career...
, the talented display director of Bonwit TellerBonwit TellerBonwit Teller was a department store in New York City founded by Paul Bonwit in 1895 at Sixth Avenue and 18th Street. In 1897 Edmund D. Teller was admitted to the partnership and the store moved to 23rd Street, East of Sixth Avenue...
.
Tropicana Club
- "Minature of the outdoor stage of the Tropicana Club (Sepy)" (19), HavanaHavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
- Dobronyi designed a small sculpture for the world famous casinoCasinoIn modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
, The Tropicana ClubTropicana ClubTropicana is a world known cabaret and club in Havana, Cuba. It was launched in 1939 at Villa Mina, a six-acre suburban estate with lush tropical gardens in Havana's Marianao neighborhood.-Influence:...
in HavanaHavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Gold Umbrella
- "Gold Umbrella (Sepy)" (1962), Coconut Grove, Florida
- Gold Umbrella, given to Debbie ReynoldsDebbie ReynoldsDebbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
, after her success in Singing in the Rain.
The Vigia
- "The Vigia, (Sepy)," (1956), HavanaHavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
- The sculpture (34.5 by 8 by 16.5 cm, or almost 14 by 3 by 6 in.) shows a crouching or squatting African figure, with wavy hair, its elbows on its knees and its hands on the ears. The sculpture has two functions: to protect the house when its owner is absent, and to protect the owner from illness and danger when he is hunting. "Vigia" is now part of Mary Hemingway's library, Finca VigíaFinca VigíaFinca Vigía was the home of Ernest Hemingway in San Francisco de Paula, Cuba, , and now houses a museum.-History of the property :...
, which has items of artistic and historic significance.
Diana the Huntress
- "Diana the Huntress (Sepy)"
- A wrought-iron, 'Diana the Huntress', was purchased by Jack LinkletterJack LinkletterJack Linkletter was an American game show and television host and entertainer. He was the son of Art Linkletter.-Early life:...
after Dobronyi had appeared on his television show.
World traveler and adventurer
Dobronyi traveled to 89 countries. During his travels he would visit hotels and would always leave with the hotel room skeleton keySkeleton Key
Skeleton Key is a rock band based in New York City. The band is the brainchild of bassist and singer Erik Sanko, who is the only constant member of the band...
. He became intrigued by the many FOB skeleton keys and would display them in his wine cellar, at his home in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. Dobronyi was very fond of mountain climbing with heights of not only the toughest mountain to reach, but also with the reputation of a peak that rises to the altitude of 20,000 feet Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
. Dobronyi is photographed while he was placing the [Florida Flag] on the top of the mountain. The journey is a test of one's endurance and traveling one foot on front of the other foot instead of ropes and pitons. It took five days to cross the jumble of rocks that lies between the green coffee plantations of the lower slopes and the vast volcanic crater with its cone within a cone. Dobronyi also climbed the Matterhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
.
Art collector
When he arrived to Miami, Dobronyi brought trophies of his travels. These included an impressive array of native primitive sculpture, dozens of artifactArtifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
s from the Near and far East. Ancient arms and armor displayed on the walls of his home/studio, along with animal skins.
Balinese art
Dobronyi was one of the first persons to import Balinese artBalinese art
Balinese art is art of Hindu-Javanese origin that grew from the work of artisans of the Majapahit Kingdom, with their expansion to Bali in the late 13th century. From the sixteenth until the twentieth centuries, the village of Kamasan, Klungkung , was the centre of classical Balinese art. During...
into the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. During his travels to Bali, the locals would bowed down to him as if he was king. He had visited Bali over 25 times and would stay in the presidential suite at the hotel for weeks at a time.
New Guinea artifacts
Dobronyi adventured to the jungles of New GuineaNew Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, to observe a primitive
Primitive culture
In older anthropology texts and discussions, the term "primitive culture" is used to refer to a society that is believed to lack cultural, technological, or economic sophistication/development...
tribal war. He explored the depths of the jungle and purchased many pieces from the natives as he lived with them and followed their customs. During his visit in the summer of 1974, he was injured with a arrow through his leg. With the care of the natives, he recovered within three days and continued his studies of wood carvings.
Huntsman
Dobronyi explored hunting as a pasttime and collected many trophies including a lion which charged straight at him, and was shot by a high-powered rifleRifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
point blank.
Dobronyi's trademark while living in Cuba, was a pocket full of shark's teeth which he passed out to the girls of his choice. Over 600 females are a member of the Shark tooth club.
Cuban Art Center
Dobronyi was one of the best known men in Havana. Old tourist literature credits Dobronyi as the founder of The Cuban Art Center in 1951. It was a cooperative attempt to provide a broader audience for the artists of Havana and the island and to stimulate the sale of their works. He had always been interested in Cuban culture and specialized in primitive, semi-abstract sculpture. A modern "Native Bazaar", which centralized the display of the art and sculpture of 187 Cuban artists, put shirts on artists' backs and bankbooks in their pocket for the first time in the island's history.Bodeguita del Medio
Dobronyi was also the co-owner of the Bodeguita del medioBodeguita del medio
La Bodeguita del Medio is a typical restaurant-bar of Havana . It is very famous and touristy for the personalities that have patronized it: Salvador Allende, the poet Pablo Neruda, the writer Ernest Hemingway, the artist Josignacio and many others...
which was the hangout for the jet-setters of that era. In 1951, Dobronyi convince owner Angel Martinez to convert his store into a tavern. There he became the hub of not only the art community but also of the social cirlces. Close friends were Ernest and Mary Hemingway
Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was an American writer and journalist.Hemingway may also refer to:*Hemingway , a surname and list of people with that name*Hemingway , a Marvel Comics character*Hemingway, South Carolina...
, Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
, Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
to name a few.
Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
- In 1985, Dobronyi was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
International Explorers Society
Dobronyi was co-founder and director for the International Explorers Society. This society was established for the purpose of promoting exploration and furthering the knowledge of geographyGeography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and other related sciences through expeditions, field trips and research projects. The Society actively supports programs for the protection of the environment
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, the conservation of wildlife, and the preservation of archaelogical and historic sites.
Discography
LP: Sepy Presents: La Bodeguita del Medio, The Music of Havana's Most Fabulous Cafe. Recorder by Riverside RecordsRiverside Records
Riverside Records was a United States record label specializing in jazz. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer under his firm Bill Grauer Productions, Inc. in 1953, the label was a major presence in the jazz record industry for a decade...
and Produced by Bill Grauer Productions, Inc, New York, 1957.
Ye Little Wood House
Otto F.Seeler AIA, professor of architecture at the University of Notre Dame, designed Dobronyi's house and studio in Coconut Grove, Florida. They had met while Dobronyi lived in Cuba. The house was designed as the perfect backdrop for the wide array of art collection including his own. Since Dobronyi's astrological sign is Taurus, the roof of the house is in the shape of a bull's head with two wooden 'horns' extending far out over the deep, shade-giving porch. The house is surrounded by lush tropical foliage, and with its soaring glass and stone walls, there is no sharp differentiation between the outside and and the interior. James Dean AIA was the resident architect for the construction. Robert D. Newell built the studio and Jonathon G. Seymour landscaped the property.The home was built with the intention to be used as a gallery for the display of other artists works. Hanging rail for paintings extend along the walls of the two story main living area. There is a small sitting room several steps down from it with a sofa forming an arch around the fireplace. Beyond the great cone-shaped copper hood of fireplace is Dobronyi's workshop.
Socialites
Dobronyi knew heads of states, socialities, jet setters, authors, artists, just plain folks and more than a few headhunters.- Errol FlynnErrol FlynnErrol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
, arranged the model for Beverly Aadland Statuette. Flynn commissioned Sepy to decorate his house, in Jamaica. Antiques, pieces of native art by the dozen and a golden statue of Beverly "Woodsy", who had been Errol's protegèe, then appearing in Cuban Rebel GirlsCuban Rebel GirlsCuban Rebel Girls is a 1959 film and the last film for Errol Flynn. It co-starred Beverly Aadland, then Flynn’s girlfriend, and was produced and directed by Barry Mahon....
which Sepy was the production manager for, were the items that filled Flynn's home. - Ernest HemingwayErnest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
- Mary Hemingway
- Gleb Derujinsky, photographed Sepy, as a model, in the article featured in Harper's Magazine, January 1954, Flying down to Cuba, page 141.
- Robin Hanbury-Tension, one of the greatest explorers and authors, united with Sepy upon arriving in Cuba. They spent time exploring the island and socializing with Flynn and many other celebrities on the island. Hanbury-Tension finalized his book, 'Worlds Within' and included the Baron as one of the most exotic characters he had ever met.
Death
Dobronyi died of liver cancerLiver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
on May 29, 2010, at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach at age 88.
The estate has been auctioned on Ebay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
and other auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
houses which included exotic
Exotic
Exotic can mean:*In mathematics:**Exotic R4 - differentiable manifold homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to the Euclidean space R4**Exotic sphere - differentiable manifold homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to the ordinary sphere*In physics:...
pieces of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. Items in the estate included a sea serpent
Sea serpent
A sea serpent or sea dragon is a type of sea monster either wholly or partly serpentine.Sightings of sea serpents have been reported for hundreds of years, and continue to be claimed today. Cryptozoologist Bruce Champagne identified more than 1,200 purported sea serpent sightings...
Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
ship by shipbuilder Bill Sjogren from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, artifacts from Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, a dragon-headed gong stand from Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. Sculptures and jewelry Sepy crafted, as well as antique Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
drum, a diminutive Balinese
Balinese people
The Balinese population of 3.0 million live mostly on the island of Bali, making up 89% of the island's population. There are also significant populations on the island of Lombok, and in the eastern-most regions of Java The Balinese population of 3.0 million (1.5% of Indonesia's population) live...
door made into a distinctive table, Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
furniture, and his Asmat
Asmat people
The Asmat are an ethnic group of New Guinea, residing in the Papua province of Indonesia. Possessing one of the most well-known and vibrant woodcarving traditions in the Pacific, their art is sought by collectors worldwide...
art from expeditions to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, once considered the largest private collection.
The item that got the most attention since Dobronyi's death was the 40-something-year old underwear of Queen Elizabeth II. The Miami Herald reports that the story of the Royal panties has circled the web and print magazines, after their sale was first reported by celebrity news website TMZ.com
TMZ.com
TMZ.com is a celebrity news website that debuted on November 8, 2005. It was a collaboration between America Online and Telepictures Productions, a division of Warner Bros., until Time Warner divested AOL in 2009. However, it is still affiliated with AOL News and has the AOL News logo affixed in...
. Louis F. Cruz who markets and manages the estate sale, believes that the Queen's undergarments are authentic.
As the story goes, Dobronyi got them from a friend after they were left on a private plane when the Queen visited Chile in 1968. Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers, the same auction house that handled the sale of Queen Victoria's undergarments back in 2008 contacted the estate and expressed their interest in handling the sale.