Sculptor and teacher, born in Munich, West Germany. He initially worked as a stonemason, 1980; then studied law and politics at Munich University, 1980–3, and drawing at evening classes. From 1984–8 he studied sculpture at Munich’s Akademie der Künste and sought to create sculpture in disparate materials such as iron, stone and glass, which his teachers insisted was technically impossible. He persevered and from 1988–96 trained as a glass blower at the Sommerakademie Bildwerk, in Frauenau, also working at the Experimental Glass Workshop in New York. Von Stumm returned to Germany and taught at Bildwerk, Frauenau, 1993–5, and in his Munich studio until 1995. For two years he had also been assistant to Michael Croissant, one of Germany’s leading sculptors.