COMPLETE 10 VOLUME ANDRE CASTELOT NAPOL?ON BONAPARTE, GILT RED FRENCH BINDINGS, WHITE HOUSE

An exceptional and visually commanding 10-volume French historical set on Napoléon Bonaparte by renowned historian André Castelot, presented in richly decorated full red bindings with elaborate gilt tooling and imperial iconography, and fresh to market from the estate of White House Executive Chef Pierre Chambrin. This is a set that operates on multiple levels—historical, aesthetic, and cultural—and represents the kind of material rarely encountered with such compelling provenance. Published in Paris during the Napoleonic bicentennial era (c. 1969–1970) by Librairie Jules Tallandier/Académique Perrin, these volumes chronicle the life and legacy of one of history’s most iconic figures through the lens of one of France’s most respected 20th-century historians. Castelot’s work helped define modern popular understanding of Napoleon, blending scholarship with narrative power—making this set both intellectually significant and highly readable. The bindings are where this set truly distinguishes itself: deep crimson boards richly adorned with gilt imperial eagles, crowns, and classical decorative panels, evoking the unmistakable visual language of Napoleonic authority. On the shelf, the effect is immediate—a unified, museum-quality statement of power, history, and European refinement. This is precisely the kind of set sought after for high-end interiors, studies, and designer libraries. What elevates this example far beyond the typical is its provenance. From the estate of Pierre Chambrin, a French-born chef who served at the highest levels of American political life—including the White House—this set carries a deeply authentic narrative. Sets of Napoleon, particularly in complete, uniform condition, have enduring global collector demand, appealing to Napoleonic and military history collectors, French cultural and literary buyers, interior designers seeking bold and sophisticated library installations. Provenance-driven collectors seeking White House–connected material, will find that this example successfully captures all three key drivers of strong auction performance which are visual impact, subject authority, and narrative provenance. Being sold by one of the owners of The Rug Life, Sabrina Chambrin Jureidini, the only Daughter of Pierre Chambrin. This book set comes with a COA signed by Sabrina, and one of Pierre’s original White House business cards. Each volume has one of Chef Chambrin’s stamps or embossed seal on an inside page. Pierre Chambrin (1947-2024) is a French-born American chef who served as the White House Executive Chef from 1989 to 1994. Chambrin was born in Paris on September 13, 1947. He received his culinary education at the Ecole des Metiers de l’alimentation, which he attended from 1961 to 1963. He moved to the United States in 1969 and opened a restaurant called Picot's Place in Massachusetts. In 1979 Chambrin took over the Washington, D.C. restaurant Maison Blanche, located near the White House. Chambrin was appointed under the presidency of George H. W. Bush to succeed Hans Raffert. He was succeeded by Walter Scheib. After leaving the White House, Chambrin became the executive chef at the Saint Louis Club in St. Louis, Missouri. The Maitres Cuisiniers de France named him "Chef of the Year" in 2008, and the Academie Culinaire de France bestowed its Lifetime Achievement Award on him in 2013.

Condition
Fine, Unread