Paul Bocuse Hand-Painted Terracotta Figurine

"This is a figurine of Paul Bocuse — contemporary, very sweet," says Patricia, and it is hard to disagree. This hand-painted terracotta figurine depicts the great chef in full whites: double-breasted jacket, long apron, arms open wide as if welcoming the whole dining room, and his tall toque rising above a cheerful, red-lipped face. At his collar, a tricolour ribbon and a small gold medal — unmistakable references to the Meilleur Ouvrier de France distinction that defined Bocuse's public identity. The figure stands on a small painted plinth, dark at the base and cream at the top, giving it the character of a miniature monument.

A figure like this belongs on a kitchen shelf, a windowsill or a mantelpiece at Chanteduc — somewhere it can be noticed and smiled at. For anyone who cooks, who has eaten at a great French table, or who simply loves celebrating French food culture.