ISLAMIC

ca. 9-10th century C.E.

glass

1 1/4 x 1 1/4 in. diameter

Bottle has octagonal body. Tear bottles are a category of small vessels made of terra-cotta or glass, typically found in tombs. Also known as lacrymatories (or lachrymatories), these bottles were fairly common in ancient Greece and Rome and are thought to have served as containers, in which mourners collected their tears for the deceased as a sign of honor and devotion. The vessels typically have a bulbous body and a long, thin neck. The aesthetics of this particular tear bottle reflects the common characteristics of Islamic glassware, which was highly influenced by the legacy of the Romans and Sasanian artistic traditions in Mesopotamia and Iran.

ca. 9-10th century C.E.

Middle East

Grace H. Dreyfus Collection

1971.77.1