In the heart of old Paris, in the 5th arrondissement, La Tuile à Loup has been a go-to source for the best of artisanal French craftsmanship for over 40 years. When the original owners were retiring in 2006, then-private banker Eric Goujou was already a devoted customer. But a small “selling” sign on the shop’s door “Passion a transmettre” (passion to be passed on), proved to be a life-changing note for Eric, whose long time interest in interiors and the art of the handmade inspired him to take the plunge as shopkeeper. Please join Susanna and me as we visit Eric at his elegant Left Bank apartment.
Here Eric finally found a light-filled Paris home that could accommodate both his many collections and serve as a stylish haven for entertaining friends and clients.
The stunning tables Eric creates not only effortlessly showcase pieces from the shop but serve as a backdrop for all the senses. The table he set below for a dinner party he was hosting later when we visited features a mix of aptware and marbleware pottery. In October 2018, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé’s dinner service they had purchased through La Tuile à Loup was included in the auction of their estate at Sotheby’s in Paris. Eric had been interested in purchasing it but the prices escalated out of his reach. Then in 2022, Eric was able to acquire a similar service through the Givenchy auction at Christie’s.
The next week we were invited back for a birthday dinner pour moi! This table featured Eric’s wintertime marbleware in a camo color way on a Liberty tablecloth.
Eric’s shop, the celebrated ceramics boutique La Tuile à Loup, is a creative partnership with his hand-selected French artisans that melds the time-honored authenticity of traditional craft with a modern lifestyle. But Eric’s expertise extends beyond ceramics. In addition to carrying other artisanal crafts such as handmade baskets, from the tiniest, most intricate for the table to larger cachepots and garden varieties, he also advises private clients on lifestyle, entertaining, starting or augmenting home collections, or looking for particular pieces.
Eric’s infectious joie de vivre and passion for quality and fine craftsmanship have informed his career and have infused his home with a cultured personality that echos his artistic interests and timeless individual style.
And a big thank you to video sponsor The Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Card Co. , whose dedication to quality, beauty and joy resonated so perfectly with Eric!
