The most accessible lachrymatory are newly made ones. In this category there
are still several groups to chose from; artist made, manufactured, and mass
produced. Each has its own appeal.
Artist Made Lachrymatory
These
bottles are hand-made around the world by glass artists who specialize in
creating beautiful and unique works of art. Each artist brings their own unique
style and each bottle is slightly different from every other. Nearly every
community has at least one glass artist, so there are a nearly unlimited number
of artists to collect. The bottle at right was produced by
Barbara Dillon, a glass artist in Big Sky, Montana.
Bill Flenniken, a glass
artist in central Texas, makes lachrymatory bottles, along with laboratory
glass. His remarkable creations are designed as necklaces, so your tears can be
close to your heart.
Artist blown bottles in the U.S. can range from $18 to over $100. Most seem
to range from $35 to $50. Artist bottles made in most other countries are typically
in the same price range. Be careful to avoid mass produced bottles represented
as artist made.
Manufactured Lachrymatory
These
bottles offer a high level of quality and a variety of styles. While many
companies produced elegant bottles in the 1920's and 1930, there are few sources
for manufactured tear bottles today.
Timeless
Traditions incorporates French glass work and American metal work to create
a remarkable line of tear bottles in a variety of styles. Each of their styles
are based on ancient traditions.
Prices range from $26 to $50 depending on where you purchase them.
Mass Produced Lachrymatory
For a collector looking to
build their collection quickly, this might be the way to go. The most common
mass produced bottles come from Egypt and the Middle East. Many are hand-blown,
although variety comes from the multitudes of workers, not from the artistic
abilities of the workers. Most of these creations are actually made as perfume
bottles, but based on the ambiguity of ancient traditions, this doesn't
necessarily reduce their value.
Another type of mass produced
bottles use perfume bottles with metal icons or figures glued on. Some of the
most beautiful examples of this style come from Czechoslovakia. Most of the
bottles are large and more appropriate for perfume.
Another intriguing style
(at right) incorporates popular images, like dragons, kittens, eagles, and other
animals into the pewter metal work. These bottles are still produced as perfume
bottles and marketed as tear bottles, but they offer an interesting option to
round out your collection.
Prices range from $2 (for the smaller Egyptian bottles) to $16 (for larger
bottles). Retail prices can go up to $30. I acquired the entire collection of
seven Egyptian bottles above for $21.
If you learn of any other artists or manufacturers that should be listed on
these pages, please let me know.
- Copyright Info: Blue and gold bottle created by Barbara
Dillon, Bozeman, MT. Red necklace bottle produced by Bill Flenniken,
Driftwood, TX. Blue pewter and gold banded bottles created by Timeless
Traditions, Bozeman, MT.
