In the picture

Paul Baragwanath. Photo / Babiche Martens

As an independent art adviser and all-round art specialist, Paul Baragwanath helps personal and corporate clients with all aspects of owning art, from buying, to placement to insurance. Baragwanath runs Auckland art consultancy Artt Ltd, which he launched several years ago. He recently opened his own gallery-like space in Lorne St too, complete with high stud, concrete floors and a special sense of history - he tells us about some of his other favourite design- related things.

10 favourite things

1 Paris

Particularly La Place des Vosges, the most beautiful square in the world and the oldest in Paris. The red brick, stone facings and perfect symmetry with rows of lime trees. Another bit of Parisian magic is the Le Musee du Moyen Age, the Museum of the Middle Ages, that houses La Dame a la Licorne - The Lady with the Unicorn - medieval tapestries. These are breathtaking homages to the natural world and to the senses. They transport me to another world.

2 Outdoor seat

An outdoor, wooden seat with a plaque in memory of my grandmother Eileen. I love it because it is simple, robust, comfortable, well made, and fits with its natural environment. And also because it looks over the beach that my grandmother loved and where I have spent many of the best times of my life. I love it because it seats friends and family all at once. It is from Park Benches, Pirongia, in the Waikato.

3 My art viewing space

My favourite interior architecture would have to be the art viewing space where I work. It's a room rectangular in shape with a high stud, concrete floor, three white walls and a third with charcoal painted steel crittle windows that run its length. The beams and pillars are rounded squares; it is very, very solid. In the concrete are bits of stone, shells and chips of driftwood collected from an early 20th century Auckland beach.

4 Jim Speers Recording Angel

I bought this piece from Jensen Gallery in Auckland. It is an abstract composition in light - a constant sunrise and sunset. Stark-modern and eternal, gentle and uncompromising.

5 Venetian glass lamp

Bought at Murano by my other grandmother Joyce, with my aunt and mother on a trip to Venice in 1956. It's a bowl of fruit. It is unique: high kitsch and beautiful. And it belonged to my grandmother. She signed a BNZ cheque in Venice at the time of strict currency control and my grandfather received an irate call from the manager of the Reserve Bank back home!

6 Scott Facer lead crystal sculpture

It resembles both an egg carton and a mountain range. It is micro and macro and captures the imagination; a simple concept beautifully executed. I saw it at Objectspace in Ponsonby, Auckland.

7 Grandfather Owen's desk

I love it because it is beautifully made, has a very satisfying form, works well, and because it was (and always will be) his. A small silver plaque on one corner reads: "Presented to The Rev. O.T. Baragwanath by the Congregation of the Balclutha Presbyterian Church 20.10.39." I heard about it and through a stroke of good luck bought it back at auction after it had been sold accidently. Friends of friends saw the inscription on the plaque and rang to alert me.

8 Ersari Turkoman Afghan rug

At about 7 metres long by 5 metres wide it is one of the larger antique, hand woven rugs in the country. It is 100 years old and well but evenly worn. I love it because it has a warm welcoming presence, because it has a sense of history, and because its antique red and blue colours harmonise with any contemporary artwork. I spent months looking and sourced it from Jane Walker from Fables Rug Gallery in Parnell, Auckland. Jane has a great eye for the very best old rugs.

9 Sara Hughes Elk Cloner

2007, acrylic on canvas, 1800mm2. It is full of life - it moves optically as you look at it, and is stunningly beautifully executed. It is optimistic and stylish, a great scale. I got it from Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland.

10 17th Century Baroque Italian cassone

I love this because it is strong, has personality (marvellous feet), the rich patina of age, and because it works beautifully below any contemporary painting. Also, you can store things in it! I bought it from Baran de Bordeaux in Parnell.