Great decorator and creator of furniture, he was born in Paris in 1876 and died in Nogent-sur-Marne in 1955. He have a very fertile work as decorator, creator of furniture, pieces of lighting, clocks, silverware, ceramic, jewels, carpet and tissues. He remained printed by classicism throughout his life with however an influence of the forms stemming from the cubism.
Maurice Dufrêne attented classes at the School of the Decorative arts, but he learn to be a decorator in the " modern House " where he met Van de Velde, Horta, Plume and Selmersheim. In 1901 he was of those who will contribute to the foundation of the "Société des Artistes Décorateurs"". In his first exhibitions, he presented simple forms of furnitures and decorations inspired by motives stemming from the Art nouveau.
From 1913 we can perceive forms stemming from the art Déco. Another tendency felt sharply in his work is his affection for the serial production and for the mechanical processes.
In 1922, he took the direction of the workshop of decoration created by "Galeries Lafayette". He proposed furniture for the large and for the small budgets by trying hard " to continue the high traditions of France with renewed techniques and new materials ".
The production of Maurice Dufrêne can be subdivided into two different categories: a production in small series and a production of unique models.
During the exhibition of the Decorative arts in 1925, Dufrêne presents the "Pavillon de la Maîtrise des Galeries Lafayette". The same year, he fits out the small lounge of the "Pavilion of the SAD".
In 1928, he exposed in the exhibition of the Artists Decorators, he presented seats edited by the " Maîtrise des Galeries Lafayette". Again in the autumn show of 1929, he proposed combinable furniture and superposables and seats in tubular steel. In the autumn show of 1931, he returned towards a more traditional style. Other sets in metal and mirror realized by Maurice Dufrêne were printed by modernism, as for the Casino of "Challes-les-Eaux".
Besides this Dufrêne received numerous commands emanating from the "Mobilier National" for embassies or for the "Palais de l'Elysée".
Always worried of spreading new ideas, Dufrêne dedicated time to the Boulle School and to the School of Art where he will had numerous pupils.
Today, we must regret that number of his furniture cannot be identified for lack of signatures.
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