The Bengaluru Santhe on Swami Vivekananda Road that was inaugurated on May 8 with much fanfare by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) wore a deserted look on Friday, with hardly any customers paying it a visit. Though there is a provision to allot 83 stalls for artisans and members of self-help groups, the BMRCL has succeeded in attracting only about 40 artisans and those who support the cause of artisans in rural areas.
The artisans who have been exhibiting their products at these stalls for more than 20 days have been sitting idle most of the time owing to lack of customers.
“Some people visit our stalls during the weekends but not on weekdays. I think that the lack of awareness or publicity about Bengaluru Santhe might be a reason for the low response and lack of encouragement from public,’’ said M Manjula, member of a self-help group, Suruchi, which exhibits cotton bags at the Santhe.
The objective of Bengaluru Santhe was to promote and help artisans from rural areas. The exhibition was supposed to be a platform for artisans to showcase their best products. The terms and conditions of participation offered to rural artisans and members of self-help groups includes a fee of Rs100 per stall per day. The artisans have to share 5% of the revenue with the BMRCL. The shops can be rented out for a maximum period of 60 days. The artisans have no problem to pay the fee of Rs 100 per day but they are worried about the lack of response from the public. “
We are very happy with the guidance and cooperation of K Prabhakara Rao, the chief executive officer of BMRCL. Though his intentions are good, the need of the hour is publicity. Not many people are aware of the existence of Bengaluru Santhe,’’ said Rajeswari Manjunath of Shiva Home Products from Shimoga.
Lack of other facilities such as eateries, entertainment and parking place for vehicles are attributed as the other reasons for the lack of footfalls at Bengaluru Santhe.
“Many visitors have told us that they faced lot of problems to find space for parking vehicles. If the authorities concerned take measures to provide a suitable place for parking vehicles, there will be more visitors. I request the BMRCL authorities to put up more banners on Swami Vivekananda Road to create awareness about the Santhe,’’ said Hema Sekhar, who won a national award for her skills in making batik tie-and-dye products.
Meanwhile, Prabhakara Rao agreed on the need to create awareness among Bangaloreans about the Santhe. “We are mulling over several options to ensure sufficient publicity. As far as the issue of vehicle parking is concerned, not many people are aware of the two-acres of land nearby meant for parking. Ours is the only Metro rail station in the country to have such a vast space for parking vehicles,’’ said Rao.
Three Rivers owner Tripp Kline makes his first pitch of the summer auction season June 4 with the opening half a doubleheader featuring a Latrobe “gentleman's collection.” The opener of the twin bill touches all the bases in the country and Americana categories with selections of furniture, clocks, collectibles, glass, silver, jewelry, china and ceramics. Along with some well-done reproductions, the sale includes many period pieces.
One of the better works of art in the sale is a still-life painting by Dorothy Lauer Davids, a Greensburg artist who earned a memorial show at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art shortly after her death in 1980. Born in York, Pa., Davids settled in Western Pennsylvania and painted ordinary scenes of daily life in her community, such as a farmhand resting after a hard day's work in the fields or shoppers at a local market. During 2009, the museum featured her work again in its “Four Perspectives on Fifty Years.”
Keeping local, the sale offers signed pieces by Malcolm Parcell and Robert Griffing, whose paintings capture the spirit of Pennsylvania's Eastern Woodland Indians during the 18th century. Bidders also will discover older maps and prints of Greensburg and other towns in the southern reaches of Western Pennsylvania.
A campaign curiosity shows how politicians helped voters get their heads around the issues in the early 20th century. After splitting from the mainstream Republican Party, former president Teddy Roosevelt formed the National Progressive party, also known as the Bull Moose Party. A well-preserved bandana captures the party's spirit with images of a bull moose, Teddy's initials and a depiction of a bear carrying a big stick.
As the temperatures outside rise, owner Dan Pletcher promises to turn up the heat in the bidding arena with a new “absolute” selling policy, even in the wake of a $41,000 hammer price for a Tiffany lamp during the May 25 sale. After losing out on several items during an out-of-state sale on which he placed the high bids because of hidden reserve prices, Pletcher vowed that all reasonable top bids on “big ticket” items at C&P events will take home that merchandise. Along with what he calls the company's low, competitive fees, Pletcher says the absolute approach will help sell more merchandise at fair market prices for consignors and bidders.
A couple of 14-karat gold rings will be among the first pieces put to the test. Both stunning in their own right, one ring sports a 4.74-karat round diamond at its center, with 12 smaller sparklers surrounding it on the gold band. The other ring packs a 2.03-karat diamond on an elegant gold band. The rings come with International Gemological Institute certification papers.
Along with the two diamond rings, the jewelry and silver selections are strong overall. A Tiffany sterling-silver owl figure, with a screw-on head, is a fine example. Flatware serving sets, coffee sets, teapots, sterling and tortoise-shell snuffboxes further burnish the silver offerings. A women's 18-karat gold Rolex wristwatch is on offer, as well.
In the furniture section, a three-door American Victorian bookcase from Pleasant Unity, Pa., is elegantly understated for Victorian furniture. The bookcase provides plenty of storage for a reader's favorite tomes behind a trio of tall glass doors. Beneath, three drawers provide space for bookmarks and other reading accessories. On the other hand, a miniature 18th-century painted Italian secretary is perfect for smaller spaces.
Another round of black Americana comes to market during this sale in the shape of salt and pepper shakers, advertising items, calendars, books and other pieces in the 35 lots up for grabs.
Artistically speaking, Japanese and Asian ivory figures, prints, antique bells, palace seats and garden urns bring a hint of the Far East. Paintings feature works from European and American artists, including several prints, engravings, mezzotints and more from a local country club that is downsizing its collection.Click on their website www.ecived.com/en for more information.
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