Native American Navajo Hand-Built Wedding Vase with Horned Toads and Yucca

The Wedding Vase is an ancient vessel still used in traditional Pueblo wedding ceremonies. Each spout of the vessel represents one of those to be wed. The looped handle represents the unity achieved with marriage. The space created within the loop represents the circle of life. In the traditional ceremony, the couple drink nectar (prepared by the medicine man) from the spouts to represent the blending of their lives. The pot is a reflection of the ancient rite. This wedding vase was handbuilt, polished with a stone, then fired in an open pit. As a final touch and to waterproof the pottery, the hot pottery is dipped in hot pine pitch. This very traditional and beautiful piece with two horned toads on the body of the vase and yucca plants on the side was created by Larrisena Manygoats, a granddaughter of master potter Betty Manygoats. The horned toad represents grandfather, health, longevity, and strength. The yucca plant provides fibers for painting and creating baskets as well as the blossoms for soap tree yucca dessert. The Manygoats family is carrying on the tradition of this pottery with the horned toads that Betty started. This piece CANNOT hold liquid. Pottery ring included.