Fraternity-Testvériség, 1963 (40. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1963-10-01 / 10. szám

6

FRATERNITY

where even the grapevine brought from Tokay could be domesticated.1

The upper part of the Haraszthy memorial plaque bears the following inscription:

“Ágoston Haraszthy, Hungary's Son 1812 California’s Pioneer 1869”

The center field is a bust portrait of Haraszthy examining a cluster of grapes. The lower part of the plaque bears the words:

“Sonoma — Tokay”

Arranged in a frieze are workers planting and harvesting the vineyards.

With the surprising dexterity of his sculptural technique, Finta implanted life in Haraszthy’s eyes. The execution of hair and beard, the skinlike surface of the hand, the workers’ actions, even the perfectly reproduced grapes, all serve to confirm what I believe to be Finta’s genius as a sculptor.

Many miniatures and small statues carved in ivory or wood remain of Finta’s works, but many more have been lost. A collection of 24 carvings in buffalo bone must be considered the crowning achievements of his miniature sculpture. On one, entitled “Runic Letters”, Finta carved the writing of the ancient Hungarians who had falllen into complete oblivion. A considerable degree of similarity has been established between the old Hungarian runic letters and those of the Sumerians. The results of studies in this field are summed up in a work entitled Sumerian Affiliation, by Dr. Ida Bobula, who in 1951 sent copies of her work to all major libraries here and in foreign countries.

Characteristic of Finta’s miniatures are their peculiarly soft and fine lines, and their delicate rhythm. He combined his closed forms with a tendency toward decoration.

1 Alexander Finta, unpublished miscellaneous notes, (read at his widow’s home, Los Angeles, California, Dec. 26, 1958).