ISLAMIC

1971.77.5.jpg

Description

Tear Bottle
ca. 9-10th century C.E.
glass
2 x 7/8 x 7/8 in.
Green glass bottle with rectangular body and cylindrical neck. 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.

Date

ca. 9-10th century C.E.

Creator

Middle East

Source

Grace H. Dreyfus Collection

Identifier

1971.77.5

Citation

Middle East, “ISLAMIC,” UCSB ADA Museum Omeka, accessed October 4, 2024, http://art-collections.museum.ucsb.edu/items/show/4829.