Hopi Pueblo Broad Face Kachina Doll By Ramon Albert Sr.

Late 20th Century

13" H x 5.875" L x 4.125" W

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root with Carved Feather Headdress, Holding 2 Sticks and Adorned with Yarn, Fur, Feathers and Fabric with a Racoon Tail Signed Ramon Albert Sr. Box 64 Hotevilla AZ

In Very Good Condition

This is a Hopi Katsina (Kachina) doll known as Broad Face or Wuyak-taywa (also spelled Wuyak-kuita or similar variations), a disciplinary or "whipper" figure in Hopi tradition.The Broad Face Kachina acts as a guardian or enforcer during ceremonies. He maintains order, protects sacred proceedings, and uses yucca whips symbolically to "whip" or cleanse the community—encouraging good behavior, participation, and spiritual purification rather than literal punishment. These figures often appear in processions as warriors surrounding more sacred Kachinas. This example is hand-carved from wood (likely cottonwood root, the traditional material) by Ramon Albert Sr., a Hopi artisan from Hotevilla, Arizona (Third Mesa on the Hopi Reservation). He was born in 1927 and passed away in 2001; he was active in the late 20th century, producing various Katsina dolls including owls, squash, and others documented in auctions, museums, and sales.The doll stands 13 inches tall and features a distinctive broad, prominent face with a feather headdress, typical for this type—often including feathers, paint details, and accessories like whips.