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Tear Bottle

CultureGreek
MediumIridescent glass
DimensionsOverall: 3 1/2 × 1 3/8 inches (8.89 × 3.49 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Jacob L. Loose
Object number34-237/15
On View
On view
Gallery Location
  • 110
Gallery Label
Elite Greek and Roman women supposedly collected their tears in small, sealed bottles like these to place in tombs as expressions of grief. Perhaps a curious early excavator broke the neck of this bottle to discover if the legend was true!
Provenance
Ella Anna Loose (née Clark, 1860-1945), Kansas City, MO, and Washington, DC, by 1934 [1];

Her gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1934.

NOTES:

[1] Ella Loose was a charismatic philanthropist who is best known today for donating Loose Park to Kansas City in 1927 in remembrance of her late husband, Jacob Leander Loose (1850-1923), founder of the Loose-Wiles Biscuit company (later Sunshine Biscuits). Ella Loose spent the winters in Washington, DC, where she was a popular member of the social scene. She gave some of her impressive collection of jewelry, art, and furnishings to the Nelson-Atkins, many of which she collected during her travels around the world.
Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.


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