sylvia-scarlett:

Tear bottles, also known as lachrymatories, have been in use since Pre-Christian times, when mourners would cry into small bottles and bury them in tombs as a sign of respect. They developed Biblical associations during the time of the Romans, which have dissipated somewhat over the centuries.

During the Victorian era, lachrymatory bottles were often elaborately decorated and used special stoppers that would slowly allow the tears to evaporate. When the tears had evaporated fully, the mourning period would end.

Contemporary tear bottles are more often used for symbolic or decorative reasons, although their purpose and meaning has remained virtually unchanged over thousands of years.

Posted 3 months ago with 21 notes

Reblogged from sylvia-scarlett
Originally posted by sylvia-scarlett