B. B. Begay

B. Begay (or B. B. Begay) is a Navajo (Diné) carver known for commercial “Kachina” dolls. Kachina (or katsina) figures originate in Hopi and other Pueblo traditions as representations of spirit beings. Navajo artists, including multiple members of the Begay family, have long produced similar carved and painted dolls from cottonwood root (or other woods) for the collector and tourist market. These are often labeled “Navajo Kachina dolls.” There is no established tradition of Apache Kachina dolls, and searches turn up no matching “Apache” pieces by this maker—listings consistently identify the work as Navajo. “Apache” in some contexts may refer to Apache County, Arizona (near Navajo lands), or simply be a mislabeling.