Camacho Roldan Y Artecto Biography
Salvador Camacho Roldan (1827-1900) was a prominent 19th-century merchant in Bogotá. His business began in 1830 as a small hardware store in the Plaza de Bolívar, which was the commercial center of Santa Fe at the time. In this shop, objects of all kinds were sold, including utensils, porcelain, household items, books and some gift items, which were carefully transported to the most awaited buyers using an elegant carriage of the time. An old advertisement from the 1930s was found which claimed that malaria pills were even sold. Camacho was always in step with fashion, marketing office supplies, wallpapers and, during the craze for English goods, selling fine Johnson & Murphy shoes and extremely elegant blazers. Soon the establishment became so famous that in 1855 it had to move the stationery section to the Camacho Roldán y Tamayo bookshop located on Calle Real (now Carrera 7a.), becoming a meeting point for the capital's intellectual elite. In addition to books, the most requested musical scores were sold, coming from renowned Weber pianos, as well as the prized Aeolian and Orchestrelle pianos, instruments later used at the Teatro Colón by artists such as Andrés Dalmau. The sale of study furniture continued, from bookcases to members' work tables, which were highly sought after at the time. Such was the reception given that Camacho Roldán y Hnos emerged in the 20th century as a company engaged in the production of furniture coveted by the most prestigious families, including the presidential one. In 1991 the company passed into the hands of the current owner, Alexander Benett, who made important changes to the means of production and design, while maintaining the traditional, elegant and welcoming style. Artecto is a Colombian company that boasts 63 years of experience in the furniture sector. Thanks to continuous renewal and the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies in the development of furniture design and production, Artecto has always kept pace with the times.
