Tear Catcher Shop – Tear Catchers Made with Love in the USA

About Our Tear Catchers

Tear catchers are small containers made of glass, stone or ceramic that are used to collect the tears of mourners. They are usually shaped like a teardrop with a long neck. Most tear catchers made today are made from glass and are shaped like a rounded vase with a narrow neck and have decorative features such as a pattern around the neck or handles on either side. Tear catchers are also known as tear bottles, tear vials or lachrymatory vials.

The use of tear catchers has been traced back to ancient Greece and Rome where they were used to collect the tears of mourners. The loved ones of a deceased person would collect their tears into a small porcelain bottle and these bottles were often then buried with the deceased so they could have the tears of their loved ones with them when entering into eternal sleep or death. Examples of ancient Greek and Roman “lacrimal vases” have been found in tombs and burial sites during archaeological expeditions.

The Bible also makes a reference to them in Psalm 56:8, which says “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (NLT). They have since become a part of the Christian tradition of morning and celebrating the life of lost loved ones for people of faith of all denominations.

What Are Victorian Tear Catchers?

A tear catcher is usually small enough to fit into one hand. They can be plain or ornate, depending on the culture they come from and how they are used. During the Victorian ear, they were notable decorative and luxurious, whereas modern designs tend to be simpler, sleeker and more artsy. As the practice of tear catching became popular again during the 1800s, tear vials were often made for wealthy or upper middle-class households from expensive materials such as silver or gold. They were usually kept on display in the home or given as gifts to friends or relatives who had tragically lost a loved one. They were especially popular as gifts for wives who had lost their husbands or mothers whose children or grandchildren had died young (which was a much more common occurrence at the time).

Legend has it that during the American Civil War of the 1800s, the wives of Union soldiers who went off to fight in the war would cry tears of sorrow into small glass vials if they heard news that their husband had fallen in battle. These stories have never been corroborated, but nevertheless the practice endured in America into the 20th Century.

The practice of collecting one’s tears into a bottle as a way of mourning and expressing love for a loved one who has passed away continues to this day. Tear catchers have experienced another revival in popularity in the 21st century and today are a popular and unique way of remembering those special people who touched our lives and made life so meaningful.

About the Tear Catcher Bottles We Have For Sale

Our tear catchers are hand-made in the USA with hand-blown glass by skilled artisans who are deeply passionate about their work. We have a variety of beautiful tear catcher bottles in different designs, including Victorian, Roman and contemporary designs. We also have different designs for specific purposes, such as the death of a spouse, baby or pet.

Because each tear catcher is made by hand, each one is unique, just as each person is unique. Each highly skilled glass blower trains for years to become a master craftsman in the ancient and beautiful art of producing beautiful glassware. We’re certain that you’ll love our gorgeous tear vials. We’re so confident that you will that we have a 30 day money back guarantee on all our products. If you aren’t 100% satisfied with your purchase within 30 days, you can return your purchase for a full refund! We stand behind all our products and are very proud of the beautiful items we offer.

We also now offer an extensive selection of matching wooden, silver, gold and pewter bases of different sizes, as well as glass domes with wooden bases for displaying our gorgeous tear vials in your home or office. The complete set of a tear catcher bottle and a matching base inside glass dome looks stunning on any table, desk, shelf or anywhere else you choose to place it.

Some of our Victorian tear catcher bottles are now on sale! Take a look at our full selection to see what offers are currently available.