A Collector’s Key: Prosper Assouline and the Art of Curation

This is precisely the feeling Assouline aims to evoke in their boutiques—where books meet objects of art and history to create a refined, immersive experience. Another breathtaking piece is a Japanese red lacquer samurai armor by Satsuma Kunizumi. Its presence is commanding, transporting visitors as soon as they enter the room. It’s more than decoration; it’s an evocative moment of cultural immersion and storytelling.

Prosper Assouline's Prized Eras

1. Timeless Gravitas (1900s–1930s)

Bronze, silver, lacquer — objects with weight and refinement. Bronze lions, bronze camels, Belle Époque silver trays.

2. The Mid-Century Dream (1950s–1960s)

Sculptural glass, ceramics, globes of the jet age. Think Murano vases, teak accents, school globes reborn as icons.

3. Jet-Set Lifestyle (1970s)

Lacquer, chrome, mirrored finishes — glamour for cocktail hour. Murano ashtrays, mirrored consoles, brass barware from Palm Beach estates.

4. Bold Expression (1980s–1990s)

Playful, geometric, unapologetically vibrant. Postmodern ceramics, colorful vide-poches, oversized decorative accessories.

5. Stories Across Time

Curation is a dialogue: a 1920s camel, a 1960s globe, and a 1970s ashtray become a world tour of history and travel.

Recent acquisitions highlight this perfectly: take the bronze sculpture of a man on a camel by Édouard Drouot, for instance. It’s a powerful work that coincidentally ties into the opening of the brand’s Riyadh boutique, complementing a smaller sculpture already in place there. The size, the detail, the narrative behind it—these are the elements that make it irresistible.

“Each piece isn’t just decoration,” Prosper says, “It’s part of the brand’s identity, a story that lives alongside our books.” 

This emotional connection is what gives Assouline’s collection its eclectic yet deeply meaningful character. A standout example is a painting by Ferdinand Roy depicting A Mamluk Riding a White Arabian Horse. The rarity and symbolism of the white horse moved him, alongside the painting’s exceptional beauty. Similarly, a pristine 1930s matador jacket isn’t just vintage flair—it’s a tangible link to history, a story preserved in intricate embroidery.

While there’s no strict aesthetic thread, projects often inspire specific themes. During the creation of Arabian Leopards—a book published with UNESCO—Assouline sought pieces reflecting the leopard motif to enrich the Riyadh boutique’s atmosphere. Jean Royer’s charcoal drawing Panther Lying Down is one such gem, perfectly marrying artistic merit with thematic relevance.

Perhaps most arresting is the marble bust of Caesar Augustus, towering at 85 cm and carved from luxurious Carrara marble. “It transforms a space,” Assouline says. “It’s the kind of piece that immediately conveys grandeur and timeless elegance, reminiscent of iconic places like the Hotel Normandie.”

Collecting for Prosper is as much about spontaneity as it is about strategy. He recalls buying a matador jacket for a modest sum, unsure if it was a joke, only to discover it perfectly fit the collection’s narrative. On the other hand, intricate works like Sylva Bernt’s Les Baigneuses demonstrate his eye for craftsmanship and detail.

From elegant Chinese lacquer mirrors discovered on a whim to imposing classical busts, Assouline’s collection embodies the brand’s ethos of refined storytelling. Passion always leads the way: “I fall in love with a piece first,” Assouline says. “Then I figure out where it belongs.”