Navajo Grand Father Storyteller Commercial Molded Plaster Doll By William Begay

ca. 2003

6.25" H x 5.5" L x 3.875" W 

Crafted Commercially from a Plaster Mold and Signed William Begay Navajo '03" 51/200 of a Sitting Adult with a Hat Holding Seven Children

In Very Good Condition

Storyteller figurines originated in Pueblo traditions (notably with Helen Cordero of Cochiti Pueblo in the 1960s, inspired by her grandfather). They typically depict an elder (often with an open mouth) surrounded by children or animals listening to stories, symbolizing oral traditions and family heritage. Navajo artists adopted and adapted the style, producing versions in pottery, carvings, and commercial forms for the tourist/souvenir market.   Begay is a very common Navajo surname, with many artists (e.g., B. Begay for kachinas, various others for jewelry/pottery).