Native American Navajo Red Clay Wedding Vase with Coyote

The Wedding Vase is an ancient vessel still used in traditional Pueblo wedding ceremonies. Each spout represents one of the individuals to be wed, while the looped handle symbolizes the unity achieved through marriage. The space within the loop signifies the circle of life. During the traditional ceremony, the couple drinks nectar, prepared by the medicine man, from the spouts to symbolize the blending of their lives. This vase, beautifully etched with images of coyotes howling at the moon around its middle, reflects the ancient rite. The coyote is widely recognized as a trickster figure. ^