FEATURES ARCHIVE

A prominent philanthropist and successful executive, Mr. William F. Reilly enjoyed a highly accomplished career that culminated in his role as chairman and chief executive officer of the publishing firm Primedia. He was also an insatiable collector with an intense love of history. This October, Christie’s will present The William F. Reilly Collection, a single-owner sale comprising 250 lots of impressive 18th and 19th century furniture, fine art and antiquities that Reilly assembled in a quest to create ‘one of the greatest houses in New York City.’

The Sutton Square residence on Manhattan’s East River was impeccably curated by interior designer Timothy Whealon to create a modern urban take on a great English country house.  In his partnership with Reilly that spanned over 12 years, Whealon selected rare works of exceptional quality and interesting provenance that reflected Reilly’s scholarly interests. Highlights of this remarkable and carefully curated collection include a 1st century B.C. Greek marble Aphrodite, a rare mid-Georgian architectural cabinet signed by the cabinet-maker William Hallett, and a remarkable 17th century painting of a villa and acrobats by the highly regarded Flemish artist referred to as “Monogrammist ‘MO.’” Estimates in the collection range from $600 to $600,000, providing a diverse range of décor ideas for both the emerging and established collector.