Spotting a Francophile at home is easy – it’s the penchant for Duralex glasses not just for water, but as the preferred choice for wine too. Known as the “original French tumbler”, the Picardie glass – named after the Picardy region in France – is one of those rare designs that is still ubiquitous because of its perfect combination of elegance and durability. The Picardie tumbler is almost tulip-shaped and it is widely used in bistros throughout France. This commercial use proves how durable the glass is.

Duralex has been making tempered glassware since 1945 in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin near Orleans, after it patented a glass-tempering process – the glasses are suitable for hot or cold drinks and can be put in a microwave or freezer. The Picardie is also stackable, further enhancing its utilitarian appeal.

If they break, they shatter much like a windscreen and not in dangerous shards. There are, of course, many imitations – but real Picardie glasses have a distinctive “Duralex” stamp on the base. The design has changed little in nearly 80 years – although there are coloured versions of the Picardie now available. The imitations tend not to be made from toughened or “tempered” glass – they just look the same – and so tend not to be as strong, durable and so are more prone to chip or crack.