Denise Gatard (1908–1991) Ceramic And Glass Necklace, C. 1955–1960. Sister Of Jouve And Vautrin.

A stunning ceramic and glass necklace by Denise Gatard, circa 1955–1960.
It consists of 12 beads made of ceramic and glass; the base is ivory-colored ceramic accented with a black and gold border, and the bead is made of glass. The necklace features 11 beads, some 1.2 cm in diameter and the largest 1.5 cm, all made of faceted ceramic and glass in shades of pink and white with bluish highlights depending on the light. Finally, the necklace ends with an oval-shaped bead (2 cm long), also made of ceramic, and the bead itself is this time made of matte glass imitating moonstone. 
The chain is made of gold-plated nickel silver; the necklace is entirely original, though the small ring on the pendant may have been replaced—though this is not certain... In very good condition, with a few slight chips on the ceramic on the reverse side, but these are invisible when worn. 
Guaranteed authentic necklace
Width and height excluding the chain: 12x11 cm

Denise Gatard, born in 1908 and died in 1991, was a French ceramic artist. Her work is representative of the decorative arts of the 1950s through the 1970s; her personal contribution lies notably in the introduction of gold into ceramics.

Denise Jouve was born on August 17, 1908in Fontenay-sous-Bois. She was the daughter of Jean Esprit Jouve, an architect and interior designer for the Dufayel department stores, and the older sister of Georges Jouve, a ceramic artist trained at the École Boulle.

After graduating from the École des Arts Appliqués on Rue Duperré, she joined, in 1929, the studio of Jean Dunand, one of the leading designers of the Art Deco movement and a master of lacquer. She learned this technique, worked with gold leaf and eggshell, and helped create the decorative panels for the ocean liner Normandie.

In 1931, she married Jean Gatard, with whom she had two daughters. They spent time in Indochina (1933–1937), a region that left a deep impression on her. There, she drew—primarily in charcoal—and sculpted in clay, drawing inspiration from the faces around her.

From 1938 to 1941, she continued her work as a sculptor during a stay in Algeria and Morocco.

In the winter of 1941, the family returned to France. Jean Gatard joined the Resistance and became a member of the Army’s Special Services; arrested by the Germans, he was executed by firing squad on August 6, 1943. Denise spent this period in hiding in Limoges, where she sculpted in clay, then returned to Paris with her children.

She continued her work with materials and color, drawing on the chemistry of glazes, and introduced gold and iron oxide through a third firing. She established her own style.

RecognitionParisian Galleries

She exhibited her first pieces (bowls, vases, lamps, etc.) at the Galerie de l’Arcade in Paris as early as 1947, and later refined and lightened her “clay jewelry” at the Galerie du Siècle in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. She began with one-of-a-kind pieces, built using the coil method, then streamlined her work, producing small series, either stamped or cast. She worked for leading fashion designers (including Nina Ricci), created miniature bas-relief buttons, worked with liquid gold, varying the shades to achieve a golden-brown glaze, and emphasized the forms with a black line of iron oxide to sharpen their contours. Her forms are slender and graceful. At first, she had to fire her pieces outdoors, but she acquired her first kiln in 1947.

In 1950, she married the interior designer Maurice Pré. Her studio was then located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Later, she expanded it to 111 Rue Saint-Antoine. Her output had increased significantly by then: she had up to three assistants, particularly for making molds. Finally, her last studio was located at 10 Rue de Buci. Always on the lookout for new materials, she created large insect sculptures in cast melchior and other metals, while continuing to design jewelry, often incorporating ceramic elements.

She continued to draw until the end of her life in 1991.