One of the clearest ghost signs in Paris On is on rue Marx Dormoy in the 18th arrondissement. It is particular relevant at this time of year.

Those who have spent the winter in France may be familiar with Les Pyréneens, a chocolate that appears in the shops only during the Christmas period. But few will be aware of its history. This ghost sign gives us a clue.

The Rozan chocolate brand was launched in 1924 by Maurice Rozan de Mazilly. The company’s headquarters were in Paris at 21 avenue Niel, but production took place at Oloron Sainte-Marie, in the Pyrénées mountains. This information can be read clearly in the ad, but what is not so clear is the company’s graphic identity, which seems to have been some kind of clown holding four bells. Who was Maurice Rozan de Mazilly, and what was so special about his chocolate?
Born in 1893, Rozan de Mazilly did not come to the chocolate business on an easy route, but rather as a way of rebuilding his life. Originally from a working class family in Normandy, he began working at the age of 15 as a sailor, before signing up with the French army at the beginning of the First World War.

Although he survived the conflict, he didn’t escape injury. He received severe injuries to his face, which required a two-year stay at the Hôpital du Val de Grâce in Paris and over twenty operations to repair the damage. Despite the pain and suffering, this period gave him time to reflect, and his first act after leaving hospital was to become a chocolatier.
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