Assouline Ultimate 2018

ASSOULINE

THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION



The Ultimate
Collection

and Special Editions

The Ultimate Collection and
Special Editions by Assouline

A selection of Assouline’s exclusive Ultimate Collection titles,
handmade volumes beautifully presented in luxury cases.

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INTRODUCTION

Assouline celebrates the venerated art and fine
handcraft of traditional bookbinding with the
Ultimate Collection. Uniting our aesthetic
creativity and editorial expertise with seasoned
craftsmanship, the Ultimate Collection heralds a
return to the luxury, care, and mystique of a fine
handcrafted book. Penned by the best experts and
exploring a vast range of topics from architecture
and fashion to fine art and jewelry, the Ultimate
Collection curates an exhibition of culture from
around the world and across the ages. Assembled
and stitched by hand using traditional techniques,
with vibrant color plates hand-tipped on art-quality
paper, presented in protective clamshell cases, each
page of this limited-edition series bears the unique
imprint of the artisan.

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HOW IT ALL STARTED

The Vision

In the early 2000s, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) closed
for renovation and expansion, but selected works from the
extensive collections were kept on view in one room—Matisse,
Brancusi, Picasso, Warhol, Pollock, all the best of the best, side
by side. Astonished to be surrounded by the most significant
milestones of artistic culture of the twentieth century, Prosper
Assouline first conceived The Impossible Collection of Art, with
the idea that even the wealthiest person in the world would
never be able to purchase the 100 most important artworks of the
modern era. Yet even the most luxurious book is attainable and
provides endless intellectual, visual, and tactile pleasure.
A couple of years later, when smartphones, tablets, and social
media exploded, and others rushed toward digital publishing,
Assouline was determined instead to produce a new luxurious
range of large-format books even more compellingly tactile,
Assouline unveiled the first titles in the Ultimate  Collection
in Fall  2008. Each volume is entirely handcrafted with unique
materials, presented in a protective clamshell case, like an
exceptional objet d’art to be treasured and enjoyed forever.

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SAVOIR FAIRE

Experts at
Each Step

Assouline’s Ultimate Collection is an homage to the traditional
art of luxury bookbinding. In an advancing digital age, Assouline
honors the origins of the bound book by reinvigorating the
exquisite artistry of traditional binding, assembled by hand using
the finest quality papers, cloths, and materials.
Each title is written by the best experts on the topics, to be
the ultimate authority on the subject. Curated by specialists,
knowledgeable experts, and industry leaders, The Impossible
Collection volumes are the epitome of Assouline’s sensibility.
These limited editions encompass some of the world’s most
highly sought-after objects as seen through the eyes of renowned
experts. Applying our dynamic aesthetic to editorial excellence,
Ultimate Collection volumes awaken the senses—from the
soaring heights of architecture to the excitement of pop culture
to the impact of fashion, art, and photography on our world—the
Ultimate Collection curates fine culture from around the globe.

Ultimate Collection volumes are
handcrafted from start to finish.

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Bindings are assembled and stitched by hand.

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Color plates are hand-tipped on fine art-quality paper.

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“ASSOULINE PRODUCES
SOME OF THE MOST EXQUISITE
BOOKS ON THE PLANET.”

FINANCIAL TIMES

Specially designed for these luxury oversize tomes,
a complimentary embroidered canvas tote is included
with every Ultimate Collection volume.

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Completely assembled and stitched by hand using traditional
artisanal techniques, with vibrant color plates hand-tipped on
art-quality paper, hand-bound with specially selected cloths
and unique materials, nestled in luxury clamshell presentation
cases for protection and display, these fine handcrafted books
attract collectors, lovers of the printed page, and those who
devour the culture of our time. Signaling a new level of
sophistication for true connoisseurs, these unique books are
works of art in their own right.

Assouline honors the traditional art of luxury
bookbinding using the finest materials and techniques.

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“ASSOULINE HAS CARVED
AN EXCLUSIVE NICHE

IN PUBLISHING WHEREBY
THE BOOK ITSELF BECOMES

AN OBJET D’ART.”

DEPARTURES
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THE COLLECTION

The Impossible
Collection Concept

Assouline’s Impossible Collection embodies the best themes
presented by the finest experts, volumes that are both
intellectually stimulating and visually beautiful, handmade,
imparting the luxurious feeling of a personal album custom-
crafted especially for the individual.
The fabrics and materials for each volume are carefully
considered and selected to create a unique tactile experience
for each distinct title. Assouline aspires to produce exceptional
objects, such as The Impossible Collection of Wine handmade
wooden box, which resembles a vintage wine crate, or the
dimpled mold for The Impossible Collection of Golf case, which
mimics the surface of a golf ball and was in development for a
year before publication.
Hand-bound with hand-tipped illustrations on art-quality
paper, elegantly presented in uniquely designed protective
display cases, these limited-edition volumes are the essence of
Assouline’s luxurious sophistication.

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“The Impossible Collection of Jewelry brings together the most
breathtaking jewels of the last century from houses such as Cartier,
Van Cleef & Arpels, Alexandre Reza, and Suzanne Belperron.”
Vogue Paris on The Impossible Collection of Jewelry

“Made with royal approval, Thomas’s lavish
photographs of the Queen’s family, retinue, staff,

and regalia radiate pomp and circumstance.
All that’s missing is the trumpet fanfare.”

Departures on The Queen’s People

“Wine lovers especially will appreciate
the extraordinary care that has
gone into this book.”

Wine Spectator on The Impossible Collection of Wine

“Louis Vuitton conjures such vitrine magic year round,
and the sled-size volume Louis Vuitton Windows
showcases the spellbinding ‘freeze-frame theater’ that
Faye McLeod and Ansel Thompson have staged in the
luxury purveyor’s windows since 2009—which non-
flâneurs may have missed.”

The New York Times on Louis Vuitton Windows

“Historian and author Nicholas Foulkes offers an
entertaining history of watches, selecting his 100 ‘dream’
timepieces of the 20th century in this beautiful tome. A
new addition to the must-admired catalogue of releases by

luxury New York publisher Assouline.”

The Telegraph on The Impossible Collection of Watches

“Whether you’re already a collector or... just a
fanatic observer, you can’t help but be drawn
into Assouline’s stunning new tome.”

Luxury London on The Impossible Collection of Cars

“A book that takes you on a golf adventure around the
world, detailing the 100 most significant, historically
noteworthy, and architecturally outstanding courses.”

Golf Digest on The Impossible Collection of Golf

“Warhol’s most iconic works appear alongside
rarely seen ones in this beautiful tome.”

W on Andy Warhol: The Impossible Collection

THE COLLECTION

ARCHITECTURE
ART
CARS

DESIGN
FASHION

GOLF
JEWELRY
MOTORCYCLES
WATCHES

WINE

14 X 17 IN – 35.5 X 42 CM | 150-200 PAGES
100-150 ILLUSTRATIONS | HAND-BOUND
LIMITED EDITIONS | HAND-TIPPED PLATES

LUXURY CLAMSHELL CASES

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Andy Warhol

The Impossible Collection

Warhol expert and former Andy Warhol Museum director Eric Shiner curates the 100
quintessential works that define the evolution of this illustrious artist, and explains
the significance of each piece within the artist’s oeuvre. Casual art lovers know
Campbell’s Soup Cans and the Marilyn Diptych, but this stunning compendium reveals
some less ubiquitous yet equally powerful paintings, prints, sculpture, films, and
photography from Warhol’s astonishing body of work.  $845 – €850 – £650

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The Impossible
Collection of Art

Internationally renowned art advisers Philippe Ségalot and Franck Giraud curate the
ideal collection of contemporary art, forming a unique perspective and understanding
of the evolution of art during the twentieth century. Capturing the essence of today’s
art world that is rarefied and revolutionary, this volume offers more than just a
printed museum, including artworks very rarely displayed and owned by private
collectors, from Pablo  Picasso’s Yo, Picasso (Self-Portrait), 1901, to Rudolf Stingel’s
Untitled, 2000.  $845 – €800 – £650



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The Impossible
Collection of Jewelry

From Art Nouveau to the brink of the new millennium, fine jewelry historian
Vivienne Becker selects the 100 quintessential bijoux that represent the milestones of
jewelry design of the last century. Featuring Tiffany, Art Deco masterpieces by Cartier,
midcentury designs by Verdura for Chanel, and fabulous creations by Van  Cleef  &
Arpels, and Chaumet, to modern designs from a new generation of innovative names
such as JAR. A must‑have for fine jewelry collectors and lovers of precious objects,
sparkling with stunning imagery.  $845 – €800 – £650







The Impossible
Collection of Fashion

From Poiret to Pucci, Doucet to Dior, Vionnet to Valentino, chief curator of the
Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology Valerie Steele selects the 100 dresses
that inspired new directions. A fashion lover’s dream, this collection includes Fortuny’s
streamlined Delphos gown circa 1907, Madame Grès’s sublimely draped goddess
creations from 1938, Issey Miyake’s 1982 evening ensemble with a rattan top that
appeared on the cover of ArtForum magazine, and Hussein Chalayan’s awe-inspiring
table skirt from 2000.  $845 – €850 – £650

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The Impossible
Collection of Design

Chosen by design expert Frédéric Chambre, this selection of furniture designs
unspools like the frames of a film, an epic composed of 100 years of creative
innovations in form, materials, and techniques. This collection traces the development
of twentieth-century design from the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements
through Bauhaus and Art Deco, Pop Art and the Memphis school, to today’s digital age,
illustrating the dynamic story of a groundbreaking century through the evolution of
everyday human objects.  $845 – €850 – £650









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The Impossible
Collection of Wine

Enrico Bernardo, Best Sommelier of the World 2004, imagines the perfect cellar
filled with the most exceptional vintages of the twentieth century. Despite changes
in technology and tastes over the past 100 years, a great wine remains the product of
countless factors, not least of which is the smile of providence. Taking into account rarity,
terroir, taste, and historical mystique, Bernardo celebrates the most exquisite vintages
around the globe, inviting the reader on a journey through history.  $945 – €950 – £750







The Impossible
Collection of Watches

British historian Nicholas Foulkes selects the 100 breakthrough timepieces of the
twentieth century, weighing the virtues of rarity, costliness, innovation, historical
importance, provenance, and design. A microcosm of hundreds of minute components
interacting harmoniously and bound within a case of precious metal, a great watch has
the power to awaken emotions, excite the imagination, and inspire the same passion
as great art. These 100 examples unfold the narrative of one of the most exciting and
dynamic periods in human history.  $845 – €850 – £650