Michel Dufet: Iconic French Design Innovator

Michel Dufet (1888 – 1985) was a French interior designer and writer. In Deville-les-Rouen, he was born. Michel Dufet was professionally active in Paris.

A Modernist at Heart

Dufet’s design philosophy was rooted in functionalism, which dictated that form should follow function. He eschewed excessive ornamentation for sleek, refined silhouettes, often using lacquered wood, metal, and glass in his furniture pieces. His work captured the essence of Art Deco but leaned towards the emerging modernist movement, emphasizing practicality alongside artistic expression.

Michel Dufet was a visionary who saw furniture not just as objects, but as architectural elements—designed with precision, balance, and an uncompromising commitment to modernity.

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His architectural projects followed similar ideals, combining rational construction with a sense of harmony and proportion. Dufet believed that a well-designed space should be as aesthetically pleasing as it is livable. This principle guided much of his interior design work.

Education & Early Years

He attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris to study painting and architecture. In 1913, he founded the MAM (Mobilier Artistique Moderne) decorating workshop at 3 Avenue de l’Opéra in Paris. It produced modern furniture, wallpaper, fabrics, and lighting. Here, Michel Dufet began showcasing his innovative designs.

In 1918, he produced the two-year-long revue Feuillets d’Art alongside Paul Claudel, André Gide, Marcel Proust, and Gabriel Fauré.

Biography

At MAM, he began collaborating on design with Louis Bureau in 1920. Michel Dufet sold MAM to P.-A. Dumas in 1924 but continued to produce furniture.

He was the head of the interior-decorating enterprise Red Star in Rio de Janeiro from 1922 until 1924. Stores, theatres, bars, and workplaces were all designed by Dufet.

Between 1924 and 1939, he worked at Le Bucheron’s newly formed Le Sylve design studio with art critic Léandre Vaillat. They designed furniture and furnishings, such as a desk in Canadian birch for the director of Agence Havas. Additionally, they created a 1929 ebony, zinc, and cellulose-veneered desk for Compagnie Asturienne des Mines.

Michel Dufet designed the first Cubist wallpapers in c1924. Interiors for the oceanliner Foch, a children’s playground for the 1926 Ile-de-France, 40 first-class cabins for the 1935 ocean liner Normandie, and a yacht for Marcel L’Herbier were among his commissions.

He wanted to design for mass manufacturing, but manufacturers were not interested.

Style

His furniture was made in unique woods with exquisite, sophisticated forms, influenced by neo-Cubism. Michel Dufet designed various stores, theatres, workplaces, public areas, and yachts, among other things. He became the editor-in-chief of Décor d’Aujourd’hui in 1933. He developed the layout for the Musée d’Antoine Bourdelle in 1947. Since 1950, he has dedicated much of his time to promoting the work of his father-in-law, sculptor Antoine Bourdelle.

Exhibitions

Several of Michel Dufet’s furniture pieces were displayed at the Salon des Artistes Français de 1914. MAM’s work has been exhibited in Société des Artistes Décorateurs Salons and Salon d’Automne sessions since 1919. Maréchal Lyautey, the commissioner general of the 1931 Paris “Exposition Coloniale,” had his welcome salon designed by Dufet. Michel Dufet designed the French pavilion for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. He also participated in the wallpaper pavilion at the 1937 Paris’ Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne,’ along with René Gabriel.

Legacy and Enduring Impact

Although Michel Dufet is not as widely recognized today as some of his peers, his work remains a cornerstone of early modernist and Art Deco design. His furniture and interiors inspire contemporary designers. His approach to blending industrial innovation with artistic elegance has left a lasting mark on the decorative arts.

Collectors and museums continue to celebrate his work, preserving his legacy as a pioneer of modern French design.

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Key Takeaways: Michel Dufet and His Influence on Modernist Decorative Arts

1. Pioneering Modernist Designer – Michel Dufet was a key figure in early 20th-century French design, bridging the transition from Art Deco to modernism.
2. Functional Yet Elegant Design – His work emphasized functionality, clean geometric forms, and the innovative use of lacquered wood, metal, and glass materials.
3. Luxury Interiors & Transport Design – Dufet’s expertise extended beyond furniture to luxury interiors, including yachts, trains, and ocean liners, where he balanced efficiency with sophistication.
4. Exhibition Recognition – He actively participated in influential design exhibitions, including the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which shaped the Art Deco movement.
5. Lasting Legacy – Though not as widely recognized as some contemporaries, Dufet’s work remains a cornerstone of modern French decorative arts, influencing contemporary furniture and interior design.

Sources

1stDibs. (n.d.). Michel Dufet furniture. 1stDibs. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://www.1stdibs.com/creators/michel-dufet/furniture/

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

Golan, R. (1995). Modernity and Nostalgia: Art and Politics in France Between the Wars. United Kingdom: Yale University Press.

Jeffreys, H. (2018). The Home Bar: From Simple Bar Carts to the Ultimate in Home Bar Design and Drinks. United Kingdom: Quarto Publishing Group UK.

Maison Gerard. (n.d.). Michel Dufet. Maison Gerard. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://www.maisongerard.com/collection/michel-dufet

Rewire Gallery. (n.d.). Michel Dufet. Rewire Gallery. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://rewirela.com/designer/michel-dufet/

Schleuning, S., Lamonaca, M. (2008). Moderne : fashioning the French interior. United Kingdom: Princeton Architectural Press.

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