Maison Assouline Turns a Page with The Library Collection

Maison Assouline, prized for its array of coffee-table books, has long transported readers through its thick, glossy pages — whether into the luxurious settings of Sicily and St Moritz, or into the creative minds of Pablo Picasso or Louis Vuitton. Now, the story extends beyond the books with The Library Collection. As Assouline’s debut step into the realm of non-book objects — designed to enhance both the reading experience and the spaces books inhabit — the collection includes pieces that continue to reflect the brand’s distinctive aesthetic, from elegantly designed bookends and magnifying glasses to trinket boxes and a backgammon set

A Masterclass in Library Styling

To celebrate the launch of The Library Collection, a masterclass in library styling was held with British interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE and President of Assouline, Alexandre Assouline. “The Library Collection has been something very, very dear to me… I just started to write on a piece of paper what would I want to see in my library. Bookends, bookstands, of course, but what else? The idea for this is not just to launch one object, it’s for it to be useful, practical, and beautiful as well,” said Alexandre, speaking about the new collection.

He went on to express that the range is about creating a library space that feels personal, stating that “We don’t follow strict visual merchandising guidelines when it comes to styling a store, we build each one with its own identity! That’s important to us, because a library should reflect who you are, but it also needs to resonate with its location. What we create for Maison Assouline London is different from New York or anywhere else. Each space has its own spirit. We work with collections that aren’t uniform in shape, and we design and style them to break the rules a little.”

When speaking about using the collection to style bookshelves, Kelly said, “When you're styling shelves, it's all about balance. And one of your biggest, biggest friends when styling shelving is books because you can change the levels of where you place thing.” She went on to emphasise the importance of space and lightness in a library, stating, “you don’t have to fill every shelf.”

Into The Library

For a collection of such inaugural importance, Assouline naturally turned to a design mastermind to craft “The Essentials” of the range. The creative force behind them is none other than Pierre Favresse, former Creative Director of Hermès-owned brand Habitat. Favresse’s expertise in contemporary furniture design was called upon to imagine and create these core pieces — a curated selection of objects designed to build and enhance the perfect library. While each item may evoke the classical ambience of a grand library — the kind you might find inside the mansion setting of an Agatha Christie novel — the inspiration actually comes from the Assouline family’s own most cherished possessions. Crafted from enduring materials such as fine wood, leather and brass, they reflect a personal and timeless sensibility. As for colours, the products are available in three rich shades that echo the brand’s signature palette: red, camel and brown.

Any Assouline book collector will know that, while the books are magnificent to flick through and to hold, their grandeur can make them rather difficult to handle. Enter the bookstands. One — the Culture Bookstand — is simple and understated, while the other is a striking conversation piece that simply cannot go unnoticed. The latter is aimed at the very person it’s named after: the Collector.

Crafted from rigid walnut wood and wrapped in pebbled leather, the Collector Bookstand is available in both Ultimate and Classic sizes. What literally raises it above the Culture Bookstand — in both drama and presence — is the brushed-brass stand it rests upon, elevating it into a more sculptural piece.

For the Assouline books tucked away and not open on display, three different designs of bookends are included in the collection as a chic stopper to prevent your prized books from slipping away. The Library Bookends ie 'the impostors' mimic a group of rare books sat on the shelf. Set to sandwich your ‘real’ books together, these bookends are designed in walnut wood with the glittering contrast of brushed brass pages in between.

Turning to two slightly more contemporary forms to maintain the upright posture of your books: the Cubist and Twist Bookends. The Cubist merges the worlds of design and art in a curvaceous form with modernist flair — semi-circles hover above triangles in a format reminiscent of Picasso’s canvases. Each piece has its own distinct character, sold individually rather than as a pair.

The Twist is carved from brushed brass and walnut wood, with a cubic plinth base that spirals upward into a fusilli-like swirl. Designed by Prosper Assouline, it’s made to be admired from every angle, as smooth contours cascade around its core.

This collection isn’t only about propping up books in spectacular fashion. More playful additions have been integrated, including trinket boxes and trays, a backgammon set, a leather-bound hourglass, and a magnifying glass — each matching the hues and style of the wider collection. The backgammon set and trinket accessories also feature brass, rock-shaped pebbles as abstract statement motifs.

Introducing The Fragrances

Leather, paper, wood, cigars… the key scents of a classical library, filled floor to ceiling with delicately flaking rare books. Picture leather-bound volumes with gold foil glinting along their spines, and deep, cushioned burgundy armchairs to sink into while flicking through pages in a haze of cigar smoke. Admittedly, it’s more 1920s than 2020s — but you can bring the scent of this romanticised vision into the present with The Library home fragrance collection. No, they didn’t stop at objects...

Each candle evokes a distinct feeling — like opening a cherished book and being met with the comforting whoosh of aged paper, or stepping into the quiet sophistication of a smoking room with a glowing fire in the corner. ‘Culture Lounge’, for instance, aims to capture an atmosphere rich in intellectual depth, using warm, familiar notes of velvety vanilla, musk and rare sandalwood.

Light a wick, pull out a book, and let yourself be transported. “Never underestimate the power of a book,” said Kelly Hoppen during the masterclass. “Like when I open one on Capri and think, ‘How did they know I wanted to see this?’ It’s like the book picks the perfect places just for you.” Maybe the perfect place is the library?

Explore the full collection via eu.assouline.com/pages/library-collection