Born in 1888 into a family of engineers and industrialists, Michel Dufet initially pursued architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, despite an early passion for painting. His encounter with antique dealer Edmond Vasset led to the creation of Meubles Artistiques Modernes (MAM), a company dedicated to producing and exhibiting modern furniture and decorative objects. Throughout his career, Dufet combined artistic experimentation with industrial thinking, developing a vision of design closely tied to modern living and technological progress.