Krishtie: Bangalore Relic hunter’s oasis

Whether you are a “wide-eyed wanderer” or a seasoned city slicker, Bangalore is sure to impress you with its markets and shopping malls. From clothing and jewellery to furniture and home appliances, the shops in the city offer smart deals in things trendy as well as traditional. And if you are looking for something straight out from the hoary past, you won’t be disappointed either. Krishtie Antique Art Sales bowls you over with its unique collection of all things frozen in time.

Located on the busy Airport Road, this shop is owned by V Krishna Reddy, whose passion as an antique dealer was ignited when he inherited several items from the family heirloom. His enthusiasm spills forth as you talk to him about his collection, in the several anecdotes that he shares about each item.

A visit to Krishtie’s is like walking into a room where time has stood still. The shelves are filled with all kinds of collector’s items—Japanese egg-shell porcelain sets, British tea sets, Ming-dynasty vases, Swarovski crystals, rare Swiss pocket watches, Victorian furniture, bohemian chandeliers and grandfather clocks. And as the sun filters in, you can see Italian stained glasses, resplendent with colourful motifs of Ganesha and Lakshmi.

The walls are adorned with splashes from a bygone era. Tanjore and Mysore paintings and original artworks of Raja Ravi Varma, Debi Prasad Roy Choudhary and Venkat Rao share space with a seventeenth century rendition by the Italian artist Giovanni Maria Benzoni and several Japanese and Chinese works of art.

A cross belonging to the renaissance period and a few Bibles in Latin attract the collector as well. And last but not the least, antique filigree incense stand from Peshawar, exquisite jewellery from the yesteryears, trinket boxes and rare cigarette cases transport you to a Mughal durbar and leave you spellbound.

All these are just a scratch on the surface. Walk in to discover more. Who knows, you might even chance upon an ancient treasure trove!