Page 8 - Sporer Collection of Himalayan bronzes

The Sporer Family:

DocTorS WiThouT BorDerS

Andrew and Edita Sporer’s collection of Himalayan bronzes acquired over a span of thirty
years refects their international lives, deep passions, and appreciation of fne craftsmanship.
Both Andrew and Edita were born in pre-war Eastern Europe under the rule of the Austro-
Hungarian Empire, Edita in what was known as Moravia and Andrew in Hungary. Both
Andrew and Edita were immensely accomplished individuals. Andrew spoke fve languages
and received his M.D. from universities in both Hungary and France. He became a notable
urologist and surgeon, lecturing across the United States and instructing at renowned
institutions including the University of Bologna in Italy and Medico Kabul in Afghanistan. His
wife Edita’s achievements were no less profound. She studied at universities in both Prague
and Bratislava to become an anesthesiologist and was one of the frst foreign women ever
to be admitted to Harvard University’s Mass General Hospital for postgraduate training. In
1947, Edita became a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology. In her ffty years
of medical practice, she never once lost a patient. Although both born in Eastern Europe,
Edita and Andrew met while conducting a surgery in an operating room in New York City.
They both pursued medicine as a career but ultimately devoted themselves to a life of art,
travel, and cultural exploration.

The roots of Edita and Andrew’s appreciation of Himalayan sculpture formed through
their individual experiences previous to their life together in the United States. Before
medical school, Edita dreamed of becoming an artist. Her father worked as a restorer who
specialized in antiques and museum-quality decorative arts and furniture. He convinced
Edita to attend medical school back in Czechoslovakia, but her ardor for artistry and
beauty continued to be a defning factor in her life, whether through her art collection
or hand-sewn evening gowns created from fabric she purchased in India. Edita created
art throughout her life and was quite talented in a variety of media including ink and
watercolor. As a young man, Andrew traveled around the world. He spent his summers at
university in France as a doctor on boats sailing to Northern Africa. The connections he made
on these boat trips brought him to Siam. Andrew remained in Asia for a time, eventually
becoming the Director of Surgery for the International Red Cross where he was stationed in
Southern China for three years. Andrew would fy over the Himalayas to explore regions of
India throughout this period of his life. These journeys, along with stories of Tibet he heard
while living in China, instilled within him a fascination of the mountainous land between
China and India. Edita too fell in love with India and visited Nepal on her frst trip of many to
the subcontinent. The Sporers were among the frst foreigners to visit Bhutan, which they
reached by travelling on horseback.

6 THE SPORER COLLECTION OF HIMALAYAN SCULPTURE