Tear Catcher

A tear catcher, also called a Tear Bottle or Lacrimosa, is typically an ornamental vase piece, made from blown glass and dyed appropriately to the creator's taste.


In some American Civil War stories, women were said to have cried into tear bottles and saved them until their husbands returned. Their collected tears would show the men how much they were loved and missed.

If he didn’t make it back, the bottle would be set in a place of honor.

Tear bottles reappeared during the Victorian period of the 19th century, when those mourning the loss of loved ones would collect their tears in bottles ornately decorated with silver and pewter. Special stoppers allowed the tears to evaporate. When the tears were gone, the mourning period would end.

The tear bottle tradition has endured for more than 3,000 years.