Remembering Robert Noakes with Senior International Art Specialist Perry Tung

Posted by & filed under Cowley Abbott Updates.

I was sad to hear of Robert Noakes’ passing last year, but while preparing his art collection to be offered for sale, vivid memories of Robert buzzing around the auction rooms during previews and phone bidding with him came back to me.

I first met Robert early in my career when I was working for a local Toronto auction house. During previews, he would stride into the galleries, making straight for the works he was interested in. Inevitably, these would be decorative arts, furniture and fine art. His residence, luxuriously decorated with artworks and sculptures in every room, was a testament to his expert eye as a collector.

Works by Graham Coughtry, Henri Matisse and Guido Molinari displayed at the Noakes residence

During the auction week, I would often be assigned to phone bid with Robert. Phone bidding with him was always exciting. I would call him three lots ahead, we would quickly catch up, and then it would come time to bid on the lot he wanted, and he would get very serious. Once the auctioneer had opened the lot, he would quickly jump in, usually telling me to keep the paddle up until he won the lot. Or he would wait until the auctioneer would hammer down a lot and tell me to bid, eventually winning the lot. His quick thinking and passion for collecting art made him a memorable figure in the Canadian auction world, unlike anyone else.

Cowley Abbott is delighted to present four online auctions showcasing the breadth and depth of his collection. There are exceptional works in each auction, with the following highlights in our February sales:

Lot 20. Françoise Sullivan, Rouges. Oil on canvas. 30 x 40 in (76.2 x 101.6 cm). Estimate: $7,000-9,000

Lot 35. Robert Motherwell, Three Forms II (B. 416). Etching with carborundum on grey HMP paper. 17.5 x 22.5 in (44.5 x 57.2 cm). Estimate: $3,000-4,000

Lot 2. Guido Molinari, Noir & Blanc. Ink on paper. 20.5 x 26 in (52.1 x 66 cm). Estimate: $10,000-15,000

Artwork from the Estate of Jaan Poldaas Online Auction (February 11th to 25th)

Posted by & filed under Cowley Abbott Updates.

Jaan Poldaas (1948-2018) was born in Sweden to Estonian refugees and grew up in Northern Ontario. Initially trained as an architect at the University of Toronto, Poldaas began painting in the geometric abstract style for which he is known, but from a consistently experimental and conceptual perspective. Cowley Abbott and the estate of Jaan Poldaas are pleased to present seven original works by the artist, including a full set of the six collage series or studies for Poldaas’ major works of the 1990s. Also featured is a work from the artist’s first series, entitled “Horizon paintings”, which consisted of experiments with monochrome paint on paper. Twenty-nine additional works from the artist’s personal collection by diverse artists represent five decades of Canadian art, telling a story about painting in Toronto and its legacy. All the works in the collection held meaning for the artist, and reflect Jaan Poldaas’ true admiration of paint, painting – and the great Canadian painters. 

Browse the catalogue for Artwork from the Estate of Jaan Poldaas, open for bidding until February 25th and available to preview at the Cowley Abbott gallery.