Native American Santa Clara Handbuilt and Handcarved Wedding Vase by Mela Youngblood
Wonderful handbuilt wedding vase by Santa Clara potter Mela Youngblood (1931-1990) with the trademark Tafoya Bear Paw. Mela is the daughter of Margaret Tafoya and the mother of Nathan and Nancy Youngblood. This very old piece has a few scratch marks as would a vase of this age that was not stored behind glass. This piece is from a private collection and we are honored to have it in our gallery.
The Wedding Vase is an ancient vessel still used in traditional Pueblo wedding ceremonies. One spout of the vessel represents the husband and the other the wife. 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 their lives. The pot is a reflection of the ancient rite. Click on numbered boxes below image for additional views. This piece is NOT available for wholesale.
