Margaret Tafoya was known for her large-scale pottery.  This exceptional wedding vase is 16 inches tall and fully polished. There are bear paws on both sides. The bear paw is symbolic on her pottery of a Santa Clara story where the bear led the Pueblo people to water during a drought.  The fully polished pieces by Margaret are always the most difficult to make. The entire piece has to be polished at one time!  It is amazing that she could get such an exceptional polish on these large pieces.  As well, not the shape.  Margaret was known for her wedding vases and their round body and the very straight and tall spouts. The symmetry of her wedding vases is something that few other potters have been able to achieve!  It is certainly a testament to the skill, shape, and shine of this piece that it received a blue ribbon at the 1972 Santa Fe Indian Market!  The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret Tafoya”.   Definitely a piece of significance in size and history!