17 Facts About Dora Gordine

Dora Gordine was an Estonian Jewish Modernist figurative and portraitist sculptor.

Dora Gordine moved to Paris and on her third marriage, to Hon.

Dora Gordine specialized in portrait sculptures attracting international admirers from the political, social, artistic, literary and theatrical worlds.

Dora Gordine's legacy includes a number of public space pieces.

Dora Gordine was the youngest of four children born to Morduch Gordin and Emma Ester Schepshelewitch, both Russian Jews, in Liepaja, Latvia, at a time when it was still part of the Russian Empire.

Later, it seems that Dora Gordine's father was prepared to pay for Dora Gordine's elder sister, Anna, to study at one of Tallinn's leading art schools.

Dora Gordine exhibited bronze sculptures in Tallinn in 1917,1920 and 1921.

The independent income from Hare allowed Dora Gordine to build Dorich House in Kingston Vale, her studio and a showcase for her work.

Dora Gordine's husband introduced her to London society figures, many of whom sat for her, Dame Edith Evans, Dame Beryl Grey, Dorothy Tutin, Sian Phillips, Emlyn Williams, Sir Kenneth Clark, John Pope-Hennessy and Professor F Brown, Head of the Slade School of Art.

At the outbreak of World War II, Dora Gordine's career was brought to a halt.

Dora Gordine was elected a Fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors in 1949.

Dora Gordine travelled and lectured in America, working in Hollywood, art lecturing and designing film sets in 1947 and revisited the US in 1959.

Dora Gordine's work was part of the sculpture event in the art competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics.

Dora Gordine had a great interest in her garden and, in particular, herbs and plants used for medicinal purposes, such as Tansy.

Dora Gordine often invited the members of the Royal Ballet School to Dorich house to pose for her.

Dora Gordine died in Dorich House in December 1991, aged around 96.

Dorich House was designed by Dora Gordine and completed in 1936.