Marion Dorn

Marion Victoria Dorn also known as Marion Dorn Kauffer (born in Menlo Park, California on December 25, 1896 —died in Tangier, Morocco on January 28, 1964 Known for her significant contributions to modern British interiors in particular for her 'sculpted' carpets, she contributed to some of the best-known interiors of the time including the Savoy Hotel, Claridges, the Orion and the Queen Mary. In the late 1930s and early 1940s she created moquette fabric designs for use in London Transport passenger vehicles.

Early life Marion Victoria Dorn's parents were Diodemus Socrates Dorn (1860–1913), a lawyer, and Camille Johnson (1870–1932); she was one of five children. Five of her batiks were featured in Vogue magazine in May 1925 which helped her gain popularity and showed her inventiveness. Exhibition of Rugs by Marion Dorn and Edward McKnight Kauffer Dorland Hall, London (1933 and 1934), The Universal Exhibition (World's Fair), Paris (1937) Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE), San Francisco (1939), maintained exposure in the United States for her work in her absence In 1930s commissioned to design 5.8m circular carpet for Ginie & Stephen Courtauld’s Eltham Palace entrance hall. ‘Its shades of reddish brown, pinkish beige and fawn complemented the marquetry designs on the walls, and the pattern was intended to draw visitors into the drawing and dining rooms.’ taken from English Heritage Guidebook of Eltham Palace.