Marcel Derny was born in the Sarthe in 1914 and as an orphan of war entrusted to a family with a domain in pastoral farming, where he developes his first talents in modelling animals. At the age of 7 he moves to Algeria, where he will remain until the age of 16, and where he has his first exposition in the exhibition "Orientalistes d'Alger" and in 1928 receives his first award.
By Paul Belmondo, director of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris he is invited as a student where he stays from 1931 to 1934 and receives numerous awards.
In 1933 he integrates at the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres where he becomes one of its most renowned sculptors until 1976.
He realizes a great number of animal figures in glazed stoneware and collaborates with artists like Bizette Lindet, Dunand, Janniot, Sandoz, Zadkine and many others.
Also he designs mythological items in biscuit like Daphne and ornamental works for cruise ships like the Pasteur and the France in 1962, together with Jean Mayodon.
During this period he obtains the title of "Grand Master of Ceramic Art".
In 1976 he was awarded the title "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres".
Over the world his bronze and sandstone objects are found in, amongst others, the Musée Nationale de Céramique de Sèvres in Paris, the Musée des Années Trente in Boulogne-Billancourt, Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and in private collections as the one of Emperor Hirohito of Japan.
