(Photo: Lisa Kereszi)

Simon de Pury
Chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company Auction House, 450 W. 15th St.
The centerpiece of Phillips de Pury & Co.’s industrial-glamorous loft offices in the meatpacking district is De Pury’s own office, set off with Ron Arad chairs and lined with John Armleder’s giant silver plastic bubbles. The dueling focal points are a giant crystal-and-LED text-messaging chandelier by Arad—the “Lolita”—and a swooping, soaring desk-bookshelf-sculpture by artist Vito Acconci. If it looks impractical, look harder. Since he has put serious stock in design as a commodity, it stands to reason that De Pury would want his silver to have a high-design polish.