To see more Christmas items I have tested, Click HERE.
I purchased this glass in an antique store to add to my “museum of lead” collection and to feature in my upcoming book on lead in household goods.
It tested positive for Lead both with a LeadCheck swab (see video) and with an XRF instrument. It is also positive for very high levels of Cadmium (a known carcinogen.) Please Click HERE to read more about Cadmium toxicity concerns.
While there is no mark or maker visible, the shopkeeper told me this was a vintage Libbey brand glass (possibly c. 1980).
The decorative (painted) elements were positive for lead, not the clear glass in this case.
To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE.
The XRF levels for the painted area were as follows:
Green Paint
- Lead (Pb): 60,600 +/- 1,900 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 1,586 +/- 97 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 21,400 +/- 1,300 ppm
Red Paint
- Lead (Pb): 54,000 +/- 1,700 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 2,940 +/- 167 ppm
- Selenium (Se): 1,160 +/- 85 ppm
Thank you for reading!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
What about the clear glass part itself, not including the paint?
Hi Matthew,
In this case the glass is negative.
Thanks for commenting!
Tamara
I have Libbey glasses, but they’re purple glass. Do you think that would be lead free?
Hi Jessie!
I haven’t tested any purple Libbey glass so I cannot be sure. Is it new? or vintage? Most new Libbey products are Lead-free.
Tamara
Hi there, are the Gold Country Garden orange glasses lead free? They are from the 70’s. How can I test them on my own? Thanks!
Hi. I just purchased a set of Libbeys Informals Autumn Leaf glasses. New in box but not dated. They are clear glasses with leaves painted in them in green, brown, yellow and black stems and gold on the rims. I never thought about lead until my husband asked me! Do you have any idea if they have lead in them?? Thanks, Carol