toska

Peter Pan, dir. Herbert Brenon, 1924

Marie Doro, 1902

City of Eger (Cheb), Czech Republic, 1921

Ms. Codex 865, Analysis librorum Physicorum Aristotelis. [England], 1674-1675. p. xix.

Most likely the photo was taken during the Spanish flu of 1918.

Collection of lachrymatorys / lachrymosas, these tear catchers or tear vials - sometimes worn on a necklace, sometimes merely held - were used to gather the tears wept by mourners at funerals, to hold the tears of people mourning the passing of loved ones. One type of lachrymosa had a special top which allowed the tears to evaporate (signifying the time to stop mourning), others had a sealed top to allow the tears to last for a year, at which point they would be poured on the grave of the person whom the tears were wept for, Victorian era, 19th Century.