Objects constitute the fundamental currency of our consciousness: they are the things that we perceive, remember and think about. One of the most important objects for a primate is a face. Research on the macaque face patch system in recent years has given us a remarkable window into the detailed processes underlying object recognition. Here, we review the macaque face patch system, including its anatomical organization, coding principles, role in behaviour and interactions with other brain regions. We highlight not only how it constitutes an archetypal object recognition system but also how it may provide a key to understanding mechanisms for higher cognitive function.