Property from the Estate of Philip and Mary Hulitar
On February 22nd, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will sell property from the estate of Philip and Mary Hulitar. The Hulitars lived on North Ocean Boulevard in a 12,062-square-foot oceanfront home. The home was designed by Marion Sims Wyeth, a prominent architect who also designed Mar-a-Lago. Both the exterior and interior offered a classic Palm Beach aesthetic with colorfully themed and synchronized rooms.
Philip Hulitar served as the Head of Women’s Design at Bergdorf Goodman before opening his own design firm for women’s fashion in 1949. He went on to gain global recognition through the 1950s for his sophisticated collections. He retired from the industry in 1964, renting his home in Glen Cove, Long Island to Robert F. Kennedy, who was preparing to run for the Senate in New York.
The Hulitars in turn took up residency in Palm Beach and soon after began restoring several historic homes on the island.
Their contributions to Palm Beach are many. Notably, Philip Hulitar founded the Sculpture Garden for The Society of the Four Arts and went on to become Vice President and its chief benefactor. In recognition of his devotion, the board voted to name the public space The Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden. Following his death, Mary Hulitar endowed a Welcome Garden to carry on the legacy of their commitments to the space. Enhancements continue to this day in ways that serve and carry out the vision of the Hulitars.
Additionally, Mr. Hulitar was the first President of the Palm Beach Landmarks Commission and served as Vice President of the Hospice Guild of the Palm Beaches. Mary Hulitar was also very active in the Palm Beach community, serving on the boards of the Gerstenberg Hospice Center, named after her father, and The Society of the Four Arts. Mrs. Hulitar received many honors for her dedication to community service including being honored as a Town of Palm Beach Centennial Ambassador and the Hospice Foundation Hero Award.
Included in the February auction, Property from the Estate of Philip and Mary Hulitar, will be highlights such as works by the artist Stephen Scott Young and from the School of George Chinnery, exquisite examples of Venetian blackamoor figures, Chinese export paintings and an extensive collection of silver. The layout of the home, as well as how it was decorated, reflects an era of entertaining where each room showcased an abundance of worldly objects.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is thrilled to be handling the collection of a couple so influential to the history and community of Palm Beach. In addition to the February 22 auction, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will conduct its first Sporting Art Sale on February 23, offering fine art, sculptures and silver from a prominent private collection of London.