34 x 20 in (86.4 x 50.8 cm) including frame
Provenance:
The Wahsa Gallery, Winnipeg;
Collection of Gary Scherbain and Jennifer Dubienski, Winnipeg
This work prominently features red and black, colors deeply rooted in Haida ancestral traditions. It employs the distinctive formline design, a hallmark of Northwest Coast art. The title itself alludes to a renowned Haida folktale, illustrating the raven's power through its theft of the moon from the sky. This piece was created during Robert Davidson's involvement with the Northwest Coast Print Guild, a collective dedicated to upholding exceptional standards for printmaking among Native and First Nations artists.
The original drawing for this remarkable print is held in the permanent collection of the Seattle Art Museum
(Includes Buyer's Premium)
Robert Davidson
Robert Davidson is a Haida and Tlingit artist born November 4, 1946, in Hydaburg, Alaska. His Haida name is G̲uud San Glans, meaning "Eagle of the Dawn." In 1947, his family moved to Masset on Haida Gwaii. Davidson comes from a notable artistic lineage: his father Claude Davidson and grandfather Robert Davidson Sr. were respected carvers, his grandmother Florence Davidson created traditional basketry and button blankets, and his great-grandfather was Charles Edenshaw (1839–1924), a Haida artist known for wood and argillite carving, jewellery, and painting. Davidson began carving at age 13 at his father's insistence.
In 1965, Davidson moved to Vancouver to complete his education at Point Grey Secondary School, where he learned silkscreening. In 1966, while demonstrating carving at Eaton's department store, he met Bill Reid, who became a friend and mentor, coaching him on sculpture and design for eighteen months. Through Reid, Davidson met anthropologist Wilson Duff and artist Bill Holm, who further developed his understanding of Haida art. In 1967, he enrolled at the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University of Art and Design).
In 1969, at age 22, Davidson carved and raised a totem pole in Masset—the first raised there since the 1880s. In 1977, he and his apprentices carved the Charles Edenshaw Memorial Longhouse, though this structure no longer exists. In 1984, he carved a Talking Stick for Pope John Paul II to mark the papal visit to Vancouver. In 1985, he carved three totem poles for the PepsiCo International Sculpture Garden, and in 1986 he was commissioned to create a painting for Expo '86 in Vancouver.
Davidson works in multiple media including wood, argillite, gold, silver, bronze, acrylic, and printmaking (serigraph, silkscreen, lithograph). He is a founding member of the Rainbow Creek Dancers with his brother Reg Davidson and a founding member of the Haida Gwaii Singers Society. His honours include the Order of Canada (1996), the Order of British Columbia, the Governor General's Award for Visual Arts, the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts, the Inspire Award (formerly National Aboriginal Achievement Award) in art and culture, and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Victoria (1992). His work is held by the National Gallery of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Canadian Museum of History, the Royal British Columbia Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles. He lives and works in White Rock, British Columbia, and Masset, Haida Gwaii.
First Nations and Inuit Art Auction
December 4 - December 18, 2025
212 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg MB
(204) 255-5690
mayberryfineart.com
[email protected]
Contact us to make an appointment to preview this item or to sell similar works.
|
Bidding Range
|
Increment
|
|---|---|
| $0.00 - $50.00 | $1.00 |
| $50.00 - $100.00 | $5.00 |
| $100.00 - $500.00 | $10.00 |
| $500.00 - $1,000.00 | $25.00 |
| $1,000.00 - $5,000.00 | $50.00 |
| $5,000.00 - $10,000.00 | $100.00 |
| $10,000.00 - $20,000.00 | $200.00 |
| $20,000.00 - $50,000.00 | $500.00 |
| $50,000.00 - $100,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| $100,000.00+ | $5,000.00 |
Login or register a BidLots.com account to participate in any auction. Track specific lots and artists with real-time notifications on all bidding activity.
Bidding approval requires three simple steps:
1. Create a Bid Lots account
2. Confirm your email address
3. Create a valid billing profile
Bid Lots and/or the auctioneer may choose to revoke your bidding privileges if your account is not in good standing or your activity is in conflict with our standard terms and conditions of sale.
The buyer’s premium is an additional percentage charged to the winning bidder. The buyer’s premiums may vary from auction to auction, typically ranging from 10% to 20%. Buyer’s premiums will be displayed on detailed lot listings and paddle registration forms.
Bidding begins at the reserve price and advances at set increments based on the bidding range. The specific bidding increments may vary from auction to auction, however the next bid and subsequent increments will always be clearly defined on detailed lot listings. Maximum Bids and Single Bids can only be placed within the pre-defined bidding increments ensuring that no two bidders can place identical bids on an item. View individual lot detail pages to see a complete range of bidding increments for that item.
Requests to cancel a single bid are at the sole descretion of the auctioneer. Maximum bids can be increased but cannot be decreased unless premitted by the auctioneer. Requests to cancel a bid or to alter a maximum bid will be denied if the specific lot is scheduled to close in less than 24 hours or if the lot has significant interest or activity.
To request that a bid be cancelled or to change a maximum bid use the "Ask a question" button on the detailed lot listing.
You will receive an email notification when you have successfully won an auction. You will also see the item listed on your "Bidding Results" page and if you are logged into the site you will see a highlighted message on the auction catalogue pages and auction listings.
Shipping requirements may vary on different items depending on location and size or weight of an item. When registering for a specific auction you will be provided options to clarify your preferred shipping instructions. The auctioneer will also review and provide specific shipping quotes or options following the close of an auction. If you have specific shipping requirements or are unsure of the shipping constraints on a specific item please contact the auctioneer prior to bidding.
Following the close of an auction the auctioneer will provide a detailed invoice for all items you have won. They may contact you before a final invoice is prepared to confirm or review specific shipping instructions. Payment is due once a final invoice is provided and can be submitted online by credit card, or made by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer), bank draft or international wire transfer. Any outstanding balance will be automatically charged to your registered credit card 5 days following the close of an auction.