Tear Bottles

What Are Tear Bottles?

Tear bottles, sometimes called lachrymatories or tear catchers, are small decorative glass bottles with a tradition stretching back thousands of years. In ancient Rome, mourners collected their tears in small glass vials and placed them in burial tombs as a gesture of love and devotion. The tradition saw a revival during the Victorian era, when ornate tear catcher bottles sealed with special stoppers became a centerpiece of mourning rituals — once the tears evaporated, the mourning period was considered complete. Today, tear bottles serve as meaningful sympathy gifts and memorial keepsakes, honoring a tradition that has endured for nearly 3,000 years.

Tear Bottle Designs and Styles

Victorian Tear Bottles feature hand-blown glass wrapped in intricate filigree metalwork available in brass, silver, gold, and pewter finishes. These designs draw directly from the ornate aesthetics of the Victorian mourning tradition. Each bottle stands approximately two inches tall and comes with a fitted silicone cap to protect the contents.

Roma Tear Bottles are inspired by ancient Roman lachrymatory vessels. These styles feature elegant scrollwork and classical motifs in polished metal finishes. Like the Victorian designs, Roma tear bottles include a tight-fitting cap and hand-blown glass interior, making them suitable for holding tears, cremation ashes, or a lock of hair.

Angel Tear Bottles incorporate angel-themed metalwork and are a fitting tribute for someone whose memory brings comfort and peace. The angel design makes these tear bottles an especially thoughtful ash bottle for families who find meaning in angelic symbolism.

How to Use a Tear Bottle

As a Symbolic Gift: Most families give tear bottles as a symbolic gesture of love and remembrance. Like a keepsake gift, the bottle itself represents shared emotion — whether tears of grief, gratitude, or joy — without needing to be physically filled.

As an Ash Bottle or Hair Keepsake: Tear bottles can serve as a miniature vessel for a small portion of cremation ashes or a lock of hair. The bottle of ashes becomes a personal, portable remembrance that can be displayed on a nightstand, mantel, or kept in a private space. For families looking to share ashes among loved ones, a tear bottle offers an intimate alternative to a larger keepsake urn.

For Capturing Tears: Some families do choose to capture their tears in the bottle, following the ancient lachrymatory tradition. The fitted cap creates a tight seal to preserve the contents. To reduce the chance of discoloration over time, fill the bottle as completely as possible to minimize air exposure.

Choosing the Right Tear Bottle

Design: Select a style that resonates with the recipient or the person being honored. Victorian designs suit those who appreciate ornate, antique-inspired aesthetics. Roma bottles are ideal for families drawn to classical elegance. Angel bottles are especially meaningful for memorial or condolence occasions.

Metal Finish: Tear bottles are available in brass, silver, gold, and pewter finishes. Consider the recipient's personal style or match the finish to other memory boxes or keepsakes the family may already own.

Occasion: While tear bottles are most commonly given as sympathy and bereavement gifts, they are also given at weddings, births, graduations, and other milestones. Any moment that brings tears — whether of joy or sorrow — is an appropriate occasion for a tear bottle.

Free Shipping on All Tear Bottles

Every tear bottle from Memorials.com ships free with careful packaging to protect the delicate glass and metalwork. Whether you are purchasing a single tear catcher bottle as a personal keepsake or selecting several to share among family members, we ensure each one arrives safely and ready to give.