Get to know Tachu Climent, the man behind Balclis

Later this month you will be able to take part of and bid on auctions from Spains leading auction house, Balclis.

For you to get to know Balclis a bit more we have interviewed the man behind Balclis, Tachu Climent, to find out more about Balclis and the Spanish auction market.

Hello Tachu, welcome to Auctionet. Please tell us a little more about you.

I have worked in the art world all my life, it’s my great passion. Since 1995, I have
run Balclis, the oldest auction house in Barcelona, founded by my father in 1979.
Since then, we have auctioned thousands of art works, antiques and jewels. Our
auctions are a national benchmark and they are in the international market’s
spotlight. One of my main objectives has always been to adapt our business to the
digital era, which is why we have now joined Auctionet in order to achieve this.

What got you started in the auction business?

My father was one of the most important antiques dealers in Spain in the 1970s and
1980s. He was also a pioneer in importing antiques from America and the United
Kingdom. While I was studying Law, I had the opportunity to work in the family
business and that’s when I learned to appreciate the magic of this business. My
father used to take me with him when he purchased items at auctions and from
antique dealers from all over the world, so I had the chance to get to know the ins and
outs of the international market. Of course, this experience was also essential to
train me as a specialist, something that can only be achieved being in direct contact
with items. My passion for antiques led me to study at Sotheby's, where I learned
some of the keys of the world of auctions.

What is your main area of interest?

Above all, I love to learn with every important item that reaches me. Hence my
interests are very diverse; every item gives us the opportunity to learn if we pay
enough attention to it. I have a weakness for paintings, from that by the Old Masters
to the Contemporary. Quality works, regardless of their price and author, offer us
true master lessons. Obviously, my training and experience have been focused on
Spanish school artists, but my tastes have always been very eclectic. Quality has no
borders or styles.

Do you still get affected by items?

Of course, and more and more every day. To be passionate about art is essential in
order to fully enjoy this wonderful job. Every rare or different piece that arrives at
our auctions is a challenge for us. From its discovery at the house we visit up until we find the collector who will finally purchase it, it is all very exciting. In addition, I closely
follow up the study carried out by our specialists, with whom I collaborate actively.

What is the latest item that you have been enthusiastic about?

We recently had the chance to auction an excellent original drawing by Keith
Haring, coming from an important private collection. The attractiveness of this
artist, who made one of his most important murals in Barcelona, is far above his
price. The work was sold for € 90,000, an amount at the level of its quality.

Tachu's top 3 favorite items

What do you think about the auction market in Spain, in general?

Auctions in Spain are rather recent, compared to other European countries. I think
that the Spanish sector stands out for its dynamics and the excellent supply of
works of art at good prices. In addition, we must take into account the peculiarities
of local collections, many of them originating from noble families: there are nearly
3,000 active noble titles in Spain! Many of the collections we auction come from
these mansions, which have been accumulating works of art for centuries and
recently came to light. Moreover, in Barcelona there has been a collecting tradition
since the 19th Century, encouraged by the industrialists who financed the brilliant
Antoni Gaudí or bought the early works of Picasso and Dalí.

Is there any specific trend in terms of what is popular?

As in the rest of the world, the main focus is painting, but good decorative arts,
jewels and Oriental art play also an important role, and they have often reached
very high prices. The peculiarity of Spanish collections, which include many
antiques from America or Asia, makes that collectors from all over the world
follow our auctions searching for works of Latin American or Filipino art, for
example.

Are Swedish articles wanted?

Spanish collectors are very fond of Scandinavian design in general, which has
gained followers in recent years. Its functionality and simplicity have made it
contemporary classics which is very appreciated for local buyers. Swedish design is highly admired by our customers and we are sure that from now on they will find
what they are looking for in Auctionet.

Please tell us about Balclis’ main areas of expertise and its specialists.

Balclis has three main departments: painting, antiques and jewels. The latter is led
by María Domènech, one of the country's leading specialists in antique and Art
Nouveau jewellery. Jordi Carreras has been responsible of the Antiques
department for more than a decade; he is a lecturer and has written several
monographs about the history of glass. Painting and Sculpture department is led
by Enric Carranco, who has been a professor of art history for years and has
worked half of his life in this sector. Of course, their work could not be carried out
without our team of specialists and generalists, who are part of these departments.

Why online auctions and why Auctionet?

Online auctions are the essence of the auctions philosophy, but they also provide
all the advantages of mobility and offer the possibility to bid anytime anywhere. It
has never been as easy to buy at an auction as it is now, it is a true revolution.
When we discovered Auctionet after been selling for more than a year through our
website with great success, we realized that we could be much more efficient,
improve our service and share our offers with thousands of customers around the
world. We are very enthusiastic about being part of this international project and
leading it in Spain.

What kind of articles do you think our buyers can expect from Balclis?

Auctionet customers will find a wide range of jewels, antiques and art works from
the 14th to 21st Century at good prices. The most lots auctioned by Balclis come
from private collections that are on the market for the first time. The process with
which our experts make the cataloguing is a guarantee that collectors will
appreciate. You are all welcome to discover the wonders that Spanish collections
possess.