Maurice Dufrène was a co-founder in 1902 of the Society of Decorative Artists. In 1920, he created the Maîtrise workshop at Galeries Lafayette. He advocated mass production and worked with all materials: fabric, glass, wood, silver, ceramics. Through Henri Rapin he met Camille Tharaud for whom he created several forms of porcelain cups.

He created the decoration of the large room of the Parisian cinema Le Grand Rex.

Vice-president of the Salon d'automne, officer of the Legion of Honor, in July 1941, under the Vichy regime, he was appointed member of the committee of professional organization of graphic and plastic arts.