Denise Gatard was born in Fontenay-sous-Bois in 1908. She is the daughter of Jean Esprit Jouve, architect and decorator of the Grands Magasins Dufayel, and the older sister of Georges Jouve, ceramist, trained at École Boulle. After graduating from the École des arts appliqués de la rue Duperré, she entered the studio of Jean Dunand, one of the great creators of the Art Deco movement and master of lacquer, in 1929. She learned this technique, worked on the gold powder and eggshell, and participated in the creation of the decorative panels of the liner Normandie. From 1947, she presented her first pieces (cups, vases, lamps) at the Galerie de l’Arcade in Paris and her earthenware jewellery at the Galerie du Siècle in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. She works for great designers including Nina Ricci. In 1950, she married decorator Maurice Pré. Her studio was then located in the 6th district of Paris. She regularly exhibits at the Salon des artistes décorateurs and the Salon des métiers d’art and has solo exhibitions. His works are sold in France and abroad.