Exceptional Penthouse Triplex in Storied New York City

Exceptional Penthouse Triplex with a Storied New York City History Hits the Market for US$6,250,000

A rare opportunity has become available to own a piece of New York history—a magnificent penthouse apartment offering three floors of elegant living and cultural significance. Ideally located at 863 Park Avenue, this classic Renaissance Italian palazzo masterpiece is now offered for sale for US$6,250,000. 

Built in 1908 by Pollard & Sternman and developer William J. Taylor, 863 Park Avenue has a storied history of more than a century with musicians, artists, and high society gracing the home over the years. At the turn of the 20th-Century, New York underwent a revolution in sophistication. It was an era of change, and the wealthy began moving from their luxurious mansions downtown to seek a different style of living on the Upper East Side. The idea of the apartment house was in vogue, with talented and visionary architects experimenting with bold new designs. 

Upon completion in 1908, 863 Park Avenue became the example for upper-class apartment houses. A 12-story building, its Herculean columns, graceful Travertine marble lobby, limestone façades, and grand cornices are preserved perfectly to this day with renovations completed in 1998 to its façade and windows.

863 Park carries with it not only the provenance of its architecture, but the history of its residents as well. Purchased at construction by socialite Frances Guthrie, the three floors at the very top of the building were known around New York as the “Guthrie Apartment”, and many enjoyed the double height ceilings, expansive south-facing window, and grandly proportioned formal spaces. In the 1920s Guthrie sold to Earnest Schelling who, with society architect Mott B. Schmidt, transformed the apartment into a showplace. To remind him of his family roots in Switzerland, Schelling commissioned acclaimed American artist Allyn Cox to paint a mural in the new marble entrance gallery of the glowing shores of Lake Geneva and the snowy peaks of the Alps beyond. Schelling, a world renowned pianist and composer, believed “Beauty is a thing not of a period or style, but of the intangibles—form, texture, and color,” a concept which seems very modern today. In 1939 he married Peggy Marshall, a niece of Vincent Astor and the stepdaughter of philanthropist Brooke Astor. Mrs. Schelling later married Janos Scholz, a gifted fifth-generation cellist, art collector, and teacher. During this period, the apartment was hung with important art works now in major museums, and witnessed one of the first live television concert broadcasts from a private home.

Within its column-flanked doorway and limestone walls, many great musicians, intellectuals, patrons of the arts, and members of society enjoyed these rooms, giving them a vitality and history tangible to this day.

This exceptional penthouse triplex remains in pristine prewar condition. Its six woodburning fireplaces and wood-panelled library are ideal for quiet reflection. The dining room, decorated with hand-painted 18th-Century wallpaper, can easily accommodate 20 guests and is well served from an ample kitchen and pantry. Original architectural details, beautiful hardwood floors, and an expansive floor plan further distinguish this unique apartment. A secluded top floor offers space for work or family life while southern and western exposures on high floors provide bright natural light and unobstructed cityscape views. It is a truly remarkable property with a refined history waiting for the right buyer to make it their home.

This magnificent residence is offered for sale by Brown Harris Stevens with international marketing services provided by Christie’s International Real Estate through its Bespoke Marketing Program.