Great works of art tell a story, and in the case of Assouline Publishing that is particularly true. The publishing house, founded in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline, creates exquisitely photographed, hand-bound works of art, tangible testimonies to aesthetic of luxury.
Their first book, La Colombe d’Or, was a labor of love devoted to one of their favorite hotelsin Southern France. With Martine writing the text and Prosper handling graphic design, the book filled a niche and celebrated the art de vivre, which would become Assouline’s trademark.
“I think this virtual world needs tangible things. And tangible things go with books which are beautiful objects and at the same time, it’s content that brings you emotion, knowledge, intellect.” — Martine Assouline
Twenty-six years and more than fifteen hundred titles later, Assouline has established itself as the preeminent publishing house for luxury brands, and its works have become elite collector’s items, statement pieces for the most exclusive libraries with prices ranging into the thousands of dollars for limited special editions.
Assouline, which has recently branched out into furniture, candles and accessories, has published works on Chanel, Dior and Pucci, travel and architecture, and has worked with American socialite Lee Radziwill and Queen Elizabeth on tomes including their private letters and photographs.
With thirteen stores and twenty “branded corners” in high-end department stores across the globe, entering the world of Assouline is like stepping into an oasis of culture and style, a realm of luxury where you can, and should, judge a book by its cover.
