SIMON ART CO.SACRED ART · EST. 1932

Three generations.

From a rented room near Milagres Church in 1932 to churches on five continents.

Young Simon Rasquinha (seated at extreme left) as a staff member at the Statuary Studios of Albert Martis & Co., Milagres, in 1922.
Young Simon Rasquinha (seated at extreme left) as a staff member at the Statuary Studios of Albert Martis & Co., Milagres, in 1922.
Chapter I

Simon Sylvester Rasquinha

The Founder · 1910–1987
Simon Sylvester Rasquinha, founder
Simon Sylvester Rasquinha, founder

Born in 1910 in a village near Mangalore, Simon joined a statue workshop at the age of twelve. He was also a theatre artiste, stage designer, playwright and poet.

He started working single-handedly at rented premises near Milagres Church, Mangalore, and in time employed and trained a handful of skilled local youth to cope with the growing business. In January 1951 he moved to a spacious new Office & Works in his own house compound in Angelore; the Milagres workshop became the Simon & Co. sales depot for religious articles.

Simon & Co. produced statues and art pieces of all sizes in terra-cotta, plaster of Paris and cement concrete, for indoor and outdoor use. Quality and honest dealings built a fine reputation, and the work found its place in churches and institutions across India, and in Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Ceylon, East Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

“Simon & Co. became an institution of rare repute.”

Its statues of saints and national leaders, sanctuary paintings and carved crucifixes were acclaimed by some as comparable to Italian artworks.
Art products displayed by Simon & Co. in the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress Exhibition held in Mangalore (1935). Simon Rasquinha at the far right.
Art products displayed by Simon & Co. in the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress Exhibition held in Mangalore (1935). Simon Rasquinha at the far right.
The blessing and inauguration of the new workshop of Simon & Co. at Rasquinha Lane, Angelore, on 14 January 1951.
The blessing and inauguration of the new workshop of Simon & Co. at Rasquinha Lane, Angelore, on 14 January 1951.
Simon (first on the left) with clergy and guests outside the Simon & Co. Works at Rasquinha Lane, Angelore.
Simon (first on the left) with clergy and guests outside the Simon & Co. Works at Rasquinha Lane, Angelore.
An early Simon & Co. letterhead.
An early Simon & Co. letterhead.
Simon (fifth from the left, seated) with clergy and the staff of Simon & Co., manufacturers of statues, celluloid badges and potteries.
Simon (fifth from the left, seated) with clergy and the staff of Simon & Co., manufacturers of statues, celluloid badges and potteries.
Simon (fourth from the left) with clergy and the staff of Simon & Co.
Simon (fourth from the left) with clergy and the staff of Simon & Co.
Simon (fourth from the left, seated) with clergy and the staff of Simon & Co., in front of the workshop.
Simon (fourth from the left, seated) with clergy and the staff of Simon & Co., in front of the workshop.
Simon (fourth from the left, seated, in white trousers) with clergy and the staff of Simon & Co.
Simon (fourth from the left, seated, in white trousers) with clergy and the staff of Simon & Co.
Staff of Simon & Co. at the Silver Jubilee of the firm, 7 February 1957.
Staff of Simon & Co. at the Silver Jubilee of the firm, 7 February 1957.
Well-wishers at Angelore Church to say “Deo Gratias” for the Silver Jubilee, 7 February 1957. Simon stands at the centre, in a grey top and white trousers, with Arthur as a little boy beside him.
Well-wishers at Angelore Church to say “Deo Gratias” for the Silver Jubilee, 7 February 1957. Simon stands at the centre, in a grey top and white trousers, with Arthur as a little boy beside him.
Photo essay · March 1958

A day at the works.

Five photographs of the departments at Angelore, each with its original handwritten caption.

Modelling: Chief sculptor Sri Raymond Alvares models a statue of St Anthony, 4½ ft. Assistants Alphonso and Valerine clean the modelled statues while Balthazar prepares clay.
ModellingChief sculptor Sri Raymond Alvares models a statue of St Anthony, 4½ ft. Assistants Alphonso and Valerine clean the modelled statues while Balthazar prepares clay.
Statue painting: Chief artist Sri Michael Veigas gives the finishing touches to a statue of Our Lady of Pietà. Michael, Lawrence, Robert and Gigu in the painting department.
Statue paintingChief artist Sri Michael Veigas gives the finishing touches to a statue of Our Lady of Pietà. Michael, Lawrence, Robert and Gigu in the painting department.
Plaster casting: Sri Joachim Sequeira, chief of the plaster casting department, works on a cast statue of St Anne. Assistant Denis prepares a mould for casting while Mudara and Somaya help.
Plaster castingSri Joachim Sequeira, chief of the plaster casting department, works on a cast statue of St Anne. Assistant Denis prepares a mould for casting while Mudara and Somaya help.
Marble works: Alexander and Juje engrave letters on marble slabs, Sebastian prepares lead sticks for filling in the letters, and Charles marks letters on the slabs.
Marble worksAlexander and Juje engrave letters on marble slabs, Sebastian prepares lead sticks for filling in the letters, and Charles marks letters on the slabs.
Plaster finishing: Sri Henry Sequeira, chief of the department for cleaning plaster cast statues, works on a 6½ ft statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Assistants Francis, Louis and William clean other statues.
Plaster finishingSri Henry Sequeira, chief of the department for cleaning plaster cast statues, works on a 6½ ft statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Assistants Francis, Louis and William clean other statues.
Chapter II

Arthur Paul Rasquinha

The Second-Generation Mentor · from 1973

In May 1973 Simon made over the business to his elder son Arthur, who had trained for a year under L. K. Shevgoor, a master painter of Mangalore, and worked under his father for five years after university.

After the Second Vatican Council, churches needed altar tables, ambos, tabernacle stands, lecterns and baptismal fonts in stable form. In May 1975 Arthur founded SimonArt Marble, providing sanctuary furnishings and entire church floors in polished marble, granite and limestone: regarded as the first unit of its kind in coastal Karnataka.

His wife Merlyn, a product of the J J School of Art, Bombay, was the first qualified commercial artist of Mangalore, and founded SimonArt Pottery for terra-cotta art pottery and jewellery.

In 1995 the studio made the first fibreglass statues in Mangalore, and began receiving orders from Indian clergy serving in North and South America and Australia.

Fr Gregory D’Souza (Angelore parish priest) and Fr Denis Rasquinha (Simon’s youngest brother) with the staff of Simon & Co., at the making over of the business by Simon to his son Arthur, 1 May 1973. Simon is seated in the centre, with Arthur, in a suit, beside him.
Fr Gregory D’Souza (Angelore parish priest) and Fr Denis Rasquinha (Simon’s youngest brother) with the staff of Simon & Co., at the making over of the business by Simon to his son Arthur, 1 May 1973. Simon is seated in the centre, with Arthur, in a suit, beside him.
Arthur receives the National Art Enterprise Award for Simon & Co. at the 13th Intercontinental Trade Fair Awards, Ashoka Hotel, Bangalore, 1975.
Arthur receives the National Art Enterprise Award for Simon & Co. at the 13th Intercontinental Trade Fair Awards, Ashoka Hotel, Bangalore, 1975.
The Golden Jubilee at the workshop, 7 February 1982. From the left: Alice and Simon Rasquinha, Bishop Basil D’Souza, Arthur and Merlyn Rasquinha with their children Amruth and Mangal; eighth, Fr Denis Rasquinha.
The Golden Jubilee at the workshop, 7 February 1982. From the left: Alice and Simon Rasquinha, Bishop Basil D’Souza, Arthur and Merlyn Rasquinha with their children Amruth and Mangal; eighth, Fr Denis Rasquinha.
Pope John Paul II in Mangalore, at Bajpe, 6 February 1986. The papal podium, background and canopy were designed and made by Simon & Co.
Pope John Paul II in Mangalore, at Bajpe, 6 February 1986. The papal podium, background and canopy were designed and made by Simon & Co.
The papal podium at Bajpe, 1986.
The papal podium at Bajpe, 1986.
A senior painter applies the finishing coat to a plaster statue of the ‘Madonna of the Street’.
A senior painter applies the finishing coat to a plaster statue of the ‘Madonna of the Street’.
A senior sculptor models the ‘Vision Group of St Francis of Assisi’ in clay.
A senior sculptor models the ‘Vision Group of St Francis of Assisi’ in clay.
Pope John Paul II’s visit, in the press.
Pope John Paul II’s visit, in the press.
The Diamond Jubilee at Angelore Church, 1 May 1992.
The Diamond Jubilee at Angelore Church, 1 May 1992.
Chapter III

Ashwath Rasquinha

The Third-Generation Sculptor · from 2010

A qualified artist and sculptor, Ashwath took over from his father on 1 May 2010.

He has introduced newer technologies, processes and equipment into statue production. He designs, sketches and conceptualises art for churches, with a flair for the golden ages of art and the Renaissance, merging old and new forms into designs that are traditional, yet modern.

To train and retain craftsmen he has built the facilities they need. Today a cohesive group of artists and craftsmen, trained in our own studios, makes every piece.

The Platinum Jubilee, 1 May 2007: Bishop Aloysius P. D’Souza of Mangalore, Bishop Gerald I. Lobo of Shimoga and the Angelore parish priest with the staff. From 1 January 2007 the firm has been Simon Art Co.
The Platinum Jubilee, 1 May 2007: Bishop Aloysius P. D’Souza of Mangalore, Bishop Gerald I. Lobo of Shimoga and the Angelore parish priest with the staff. From 1 January 2007 the firm has been Simon Art Co.
Models in the workshop today.
Models in the workshop today.

Chronology

  1. 1932Simon & Co. founded near Milagres Church.
  2. 1938Gold Medal and Silver Medal Certificate, Diocesan Eucharistic Congress Exhibition.
  3. 1951New workshop blessed at Rasquinha Lane, Angelore, on 14 January.
  4. 1957Silver Jubilee, 7 February.
  5. 1973Simon makes over the business to Arthur, 1 May.
  6. 1975SimonArt Marble founded. National Art Enterprise Award, Bangalore.
  7. 1982Golden Jubilee, 7 February.
  8. 1986Papal podium for Pope John Paul II at Bajpe, Mangalore.
  9. 1992Diamond Jubilee, 1 May.
  10. 1995First fibreglass statues in Mangalore. ‘Pioneer Entrepreneur’ award to the founder, from ICEEDA.
  11. 2007Platinum Jubilee, 75 years. The firm becomes Simon Art Co.
  12. 2010Ashwath Rasquinha leads the third generation.
  13. 2017The 40-foot Grand High Altar at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Perampalli.

From the archive

The 1967 catalogue
The 1967 catalogue
Simon S. Rasquinha in later years
Simon S. Rasquinha in later years
Pioneer Entrepreneur, 1995
Pioneer Entrepreneur, 1995

Ninety-four years on, still made by hand.

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