Tanko – Bronze Cat Sculpture – Barbara Beretich

$7,500 “Tanko,” a bronze resting cat by Barbara Beretich (1936–2018), is a study in graceful repose. The piece captures a cat mid-grooming, its sinuous tail curling around its body and tucked legs in one seamless, self-contained form. Cast using the ancient lost-wax method, the sculpture is finished in a deep, uniform black patina that shifts between matte and satin depending on the light, lending the piece a sleek, almost graphic presence. The rounded, voluminous forms read beautifully in silhouette, while subtle surface transitions convey both the softness of fur and the underlying weight of a resting animal. Scaled to sit elegantly on a chair arm, console, or shelf, “Tanko” brings quiet sophistication to any interior. Beretich was a defining force in the Claremont, California art community for more than fifty years and a central figure in what is known as the “Claremont School.” She earned a BA in Art from the University of Illinois and later an MFA in Sculpture from Claremont Graduate University. While traveling in Europe in 1960, she met and formed a lifelong friendship with French artist Françoise Gilot. She later founded Galleria Beretich from her Claremont home — a space devoted to Claremont artists that was granted historical-site status by the city. Weight: 20 lbs