Native American Navajo Red Clay Wedding Vase with End of the Trail

Description

Native American Navajo Red Clay Wedding Vase with End of the Trail by Arlene Bennett

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 vase is beautifully etched with traditional symbols and has a band of horse with rider on his back, the symbol for the end of the trail. This is the symbol used to remind people of the Trail of Tears when the Native people were marched across the country by soldiers. This symbol shows not the defeat of the Native Americans but the perseverance and determination to survive against all odds.