MILAN — Seeking out the world’s rarest novelties is one of Prosper Assouline‘s greatest passions. Assouline, the firm he cofounded with his wife Martine in 1994, recently launched a line of unique finds called Vintage Objects as part of a broader strategy to complete the home library.

On Friday, Prosper shared with WWD that he personally helps select each piece. With the help of his in-house team, each piece has been sourced from antique markets, prestigious auction houses, and antiquarian dealers around the world. Presented as a cabinet de curiosités, the ongoing collection features one-of-a-kind objects imbued with character — from sculpted busts and globes of varying sizes to trinket boxes, ashtrays, bookstands, and a select few pieces of vintage furniture. Each item is intimately tied to the library space, reinforcing Assouline’s belief that a library is not merely a room but a sanctuary for ideas, aesthetics, and meaningful objects.

In the same vein, earlier this year Prosper and Martine’s son Alexandre Assouline pioneered the launch of The Library Collection. An array of 14 library accessories made from premium materials like walnut wood, pebbled leather and brass, they were designed in collaboration with French designer Pierre Favresse, and influenced by the Assouline family’s most cherished items and cultural roots.

Like Assouline’s books, these pieces are all meant to be collected, lived with, and passed on. Assouline shares his vintage hunting secrets here.

WWD: Your quest to complete the home library with one-of-a-kind objects adds a personal touch to Assouline’s lineup. Where does the sourcing for Vintage Objects take place exactly?

Prosper Assouline: For me, sourcing is a journey that happens in many places. I spend time wandering through international flea markets, antique stores, and auction houses. I am equally drawn to the celebrated houses —Christie’s, Sotheby’s — as I am to smaller, more intimate ones where the spirit of discovery is alive. Each place reveals treasures in its own way.

WWD: What sort of markets and places do you like to explore?

P.A.: I have always been captivated by eclectic markets, where the rare and the unexpected coexist. I love walking through aisles of objects from different times and cultures, never knowing what I might discover.

WWD: Your family has such a rich background. You are French Moroccan and Martine was born in Africa and grew up in Peru. What sparked your love for vintage objects?

P.A.: At Assouline, our vision has always been to create libraries that feel like cabinets de curiosités, places where every detail invites discovery. Vintage objects are a perfect way to bring that concept to life. To me, they are fragments of life itself, as every piece has passed through hands, homes, generations. I find myself imagining who these objects once belonged to and what journeys they have taken. These stories give meaning and character to every item.

WWD: The range of these items is from $500 to $3,000. It must be hard to price these objects — how do you go about doing that?

P.A.: I ask myself very simple questions: what would I be willing to pay for this piece, knowing its history, its beauty, its rarity? Value is not just a matter of numbers; it’s a feeling, a recognition of the soul within the object. That personal instinct is what guides me far more than any formula.

WWD: The Vintage Objects is a treasure trove of unique objects — ranging from sculptures to magnifying glasses. What are some of your favorite finds so far?

P.A.: Some discoveries have left a profound impression on me. I remember finding an amazing Niki de Saint Phalle Nana sculpture in Germany, bold and full of spirit. Another was a monumental 1930 ebony wood elephant sculpture, more than 1.2 meters tall [3.9 feet] and weighing nearly 100 kilograms [220 pounds]. Objects like these remind me why I search: they are not simply decorative, they hold meaning and make a space feel alive with stories.