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Tamara’s Toxic Dishes Guide: “Do my dishes have Lead?” Read this article to see if YOUR china has Lead!

#LeadedChina· #LeadedDishes· Homer Laughlin· Leaded China· Vintage China· Vintage Dishes· Vintage Pottery· XRF Testing· XRFTesting

 

Tamara's Toxic Holiday Dishes Guide: Do my dishes have Lead?

Published: November 22, 2018
Updated: August 1, 2023

For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times to confirm the test results for each component tested. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).

Over the years since my children were Lead poisoned, I have tested more dishes (using both XRF technology and chemical reagent swabs) than I can count — and have probably tested more dishes and consumer goods for Lead than anyone else on the planet!

Section #1) Some additional links that may be of interest:

  • Click HERE to learn more about how we test for Lead here at Lead Safe Mama, LLC.
  • Click HERE to see options for Lead-free dishes.
  • Click HERE to watch a video showing you how to efficiently search the nearly 3,500 articles with information here on the Lead Safe Mama website.
  • Click HERE to better understand the concern for Lead in dishware (and why we have allowed manufacturers to use Leaded glazes for more than a century)!
  • As a consumer, you really cannot test your dishes for Lead yourself, which is why I do this work and make the information freely available on this website. Click HERE to learn more about home test kits and the issues with testing dishes.

Section #2) In general, how much Lead is “too much” Lead?

Modern items manufactured for use by children today are considered unsafe if the glaze, paint, or surface coating tests positive for 90 ppm Lead, or more. Dishware (both modern and vintage) is not considered to be “an item intended for use by children” and as such, is not regulated for total (XRF-detectable) Lead content. As a result, many of the dishes on the lists below test positive for levels much higher than 90 ppm Lead (levels like 900 ppm, 9,000 ppm — even 90,000 ppm and higher)! As a consumer, you have a right to know this information, given Lead is one of the most potent neurotoxins known to man. I would bet (in most cases) that if you knew your dishware might be covered in Leaded glaze, you would never have chosen that brand (or pattern) in the first place. If you are concerned about the potential symptomatic impacts of Lead exposure (in both children and adults), please check out this article — LINK.

Section #3) Can Lead in dishes actually poison the user?

The short answer to this question is YES. Both in my personal experience working with families, and in case studies reported by scientists and public health officials, Lead in dishware has been shown to be a real concern as a potential source for Lead exposure. The primary concern is regular daily use of high Lead dishware (including ceramic mugs and teacups) with acidic or hot foods and beverages (lemon juice, tomato sauce, vinegar, coffee, tea, etc.) You can read more about the concern in this article and this article.

Section #4) Why I test and report on Lead (plus other toxicants) found in dishware:

I have sort of a strange fascination and interest in the discovery of very high levels of Lead in antique and vintage dishware. It’s fascinating to me because while lead in china per se is not generally a “big” issue, it is a concern that in most cases can make the overarching issue of environmental Lead-exposure and poisoning (and the fact that there are potential sources of Lead in your home) “hit home” for the vast majority of folks out there.

No matter who you are — rich, poor, or somewhere in-between; black, white, or any other color of the rainbow; born/raised in America, Europe, Australia, Asia, India, Africa, or almost anywhere on Earth (with VERY few exceptions) — you have almost definitely eaten off of vintage china at some point in your life. Family heirloom? Wedding set? Your friend’s china? Your mother’s china? Your grandmother’s china? Military service china? Cherished antiques/collectibles? Travel, restaurant or hotel ware? … Consequently, this issue should be of concern to everyone.

It is for this reason that I consider my work finding Lead (and other toxicants) in vintage china a useful tool — one that has the potential to engage people everywhere in learning more about possible toxicants in their homes and communities. Usually, if a person finds out their china (or everyday dishware) contains Lead, they start thinking about other potential sources of Lead in their life — especially sources that may be impacting their children and grandchildren.

Section #5) Scroll down for a list of china I have tested:

  • Below is a list of links to each of the categories of branded china on my site that I have tested and for which I created articles with detailed test results and other relevant information.
  • When you click on the link it will bring you to a LIST of articles that are each representative samples of china by that brand, style, maker, store, OR to a specific article for that specific pattern. Sometimes there will be other products by a brand in the list as well.
  • By looking through the different examples, you may see your exact china — or perhaps something similar, which may help give you an idea of whether or not yours might have high levels of Lead in the glaze and how much Lead that may be. If you read the articles here on LeadSafeMama.com — instead of just looking at the images — in many cases, you can actually learn whether or not I think your particular type of china might be a problem. Some are a problem now; others, not so much.

I will be updating this as I have new test results to share, so if you have not yet seen your dishes listed, please check back periodically or send me an e-mail (TamaraRubin@mac.com) or post a comment below with a link to an image of your particular dishes, and I can let you know if I have tested them (or something similar). If you are interested in having me test your exact set of china, please follow the instructions on this article — LINK.

Please let me know if you have any questions. While I do my best to answer all questions personally, with over 2,000,000 unique visitors a year here at LeadSafeMama.com it may take me a while to get to your question. Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading and sharing articles from the TamaraRubin.com / LeadSafeMama.com website. When readers share articles from this website it helps cover the costs of the work we do here.

Tamara Rubin
Owner – Lead Safe Mama, LLC
Mother of lead-poisoned children 

To make a contribution in support of this independent consumer goods testing, Click HERE.

Lead Safe Mama’s Dishware Guide

This list includes examples of both vintage and new dishes.
 You can also scroll down to the bottom of this page to see a list of china organized by country of origin (for example “Made in Japan”).

“A” China & Products

  1. Adams — all patterns
  2. Adams Calyx Ware, Real English Ironstone — England
  3. Adderley
  4. Anchor
  5. Andrea Fine Bone China
  6. Athol

“B” China & Products

  1. Bauer Potteries (Los Angeles)
  2. Baum Potteries
  3. Bernard Limoges — Artois (France)
  4. Blenheim Palace
  5. Blue Danube China – by Lipper (Japan)
  6. Blue Willow
  7. Buckingham Palace China
  8. Bunnykins
  9. Butterfly Meadow
  10. Butterfly Pattern — all brands

“C” China & Products – Not Corelle

  1. Cameo Blue
  2. Concerto
  3. Contemporary Chateau – Made In Japan
  4. Cordon Bleu
  5. Corning Centura
  6. Corning Centura – April Pattern
  7. Crazy Daisy
  8. Crown Royal
  9. Crown Trent
  10. Crate & Barrel

“C” China & Products – Corelle

  1. Corelle
  2. Corelle — Bella Faenza
  3. Corelle — Butterfly Gold
  4. Corelle — Key West (2019)
  5. Corelle — Portofino
  6. Corelle — Prairie Garden Gray (2019)
  7. Corelle — Spice of Life
  8. Corelle — Spring Blossom Green (“Crazy Daisy”)

“D-E” China & Products

  1. Denby China
  2. Dollar Store
  3. Dorset
  4. Doulton Everyday
  5. Dowan
  6. Duchess Bone China — England
  7. Dunoon Fine Bone China
  8. Duralex
  9. English Fine Bone China — all (generic)

“F” China & Products – Not Franciscan

  1. Felt & Fat
  2. Fiesta/Fiestaware — all colors/all patterns/all years
  3. Fine China — all (generic)
  4. Finlandia
  5. Floral Patterns — General
  6. Franconia Silver Thistle (Bavaria, K & A Krautheim)

“F” China & Products – Franciscan

  1. Franciscan – all patterns
  2. Franciscan Apple
  3. Franciscan Desert Rose
  4. Franciscan Ivy
  5. Franciscan Madeira
  6. Franciscan Masterpiece Minaret
  7. Franciscan Potteries

“G-H-I” China & Products

  1. Gerald Henn Workshops Spongeware (Made in Ohio)
  2. Golden Cove
  3. Grace Fine China
  4. Grace Fine China — Concerto (Japan)
  5. Grace’s Teaware
  6. Grimwades
  7. Heinrich & Co
  8. Historic Colonial Scenes
  9. Homer Laughlin
  10. Ironstone — all brands/all patterns

“J-K” China & Products

  1. Johnson Brothers — all patterns 
  2. Johnson Brothers — Fish, Design No. 3 (England)
  3. Johnson Brothers — Franciscan Desert Rose (England, 1995)
  4. Johnson Brothers — Greydawn (England)
  5. Johnson Brothers — Hearts & Flowers Pattern
  6. Johnson Brothers Ironstone — Mill Stream Pattern (England)
  7. Johnson Brothers — London Pattern English Fine China (Staffordshire, England)
  8. Johnson Brothers — Rose Chintz Pattern (England)
  9. Johnson Brothers — Sheraton Pattern (England)
  10. Johnson Brothers Wedgwood Group — Willow Earthenware (England)
  11. Johnson Brothers — Willow Pattern (England)
  12. Johann Haviland (Bavaria, Germany)

“L” China & Products (Lenox)

  1. Lenox — all patterns
  2. Lenox — Butterfly Meadow
  3. Lenox — Brookdale
  4. Lenox — Casual Images Rose Garden (Japan)
  5. Lenox — Continental Dining – Gold
  6. Lenox — Jewel (1957-1969)
  7. Lenox — Opal Innocence (2010)
  8. Lenox — Opal Innocence (2013)
  9. Lenox – Opal Innocence Dune
  10. Lenox — Temper-Ware Fall Bounty (USA)
  11. Lenox — Tin Can Alley Seven

“L” China & Products (not Lenox)

  1. Libbey
  2. Libbey — Christmas Themed
  3. Liberty Blue — all patterns
  4. Liberty Blue — Historic Colonial Scenes, Old North Church (England)
  5. Linens & Things

“M” China & Products (Mikasa)

  1. Mikasa — all patterns and styles
  2. Mikasa Continental Silk Flowers
  3. Mikasa English Countryside (1993)
  4. Mikasa French Countryside
  5. Mikasa Maxima Sorrento (Japan)
  6. Mikasa Platinum Matrix
  7. Mikasa Potters Art Country Cabin
  8. Mikasa Ultima +
  9. Mikasa Verna
  10. Mikasa White Silk

“M” China & Products (not Mikasa)

  1. Magenta
  2. Maruto Japan
  3. Memory Lane
  4. Mill Stream

“N” China & Products

  1. Noritake — all patterns
  2. Noritake – Blue Hill Pattern
  3. Noritake — Colorwave Fine Porcelain Bob Swirl Pattern (Indonesia)
  4. Noritake Dining Kitchen Gala Cuisine — Dutch Tile Pattern (Japan)
  5. Noritake — Golden Cove Pattern Fine China (Japan)
  6. Noritake — Keltcraft pattern (Ireland)
  7. Noritake Progression China — Blue Haven Pattern (Japan)
  8. Noritake — Rosedawn (Japan)
  9. Noritake Stoneware (Japan)
  10. Noritake Stoneware, Madera Ivory Pattern (Indonesia)

“O” China & Products

  1. Oneida
  2. Opal Innocence
  3. Optima China

“P-Q” China & Products

  1. Pioneer Woman
  2. Pfaltzgraff – all designs
  3. Pfaltzgraff – Midnight Sun
  4. Pfaltzgraff – Tea Rose Pattern
  5. Portmeirion
  6. Pottery Barn — all designs
  7. Pottery Barn — Emma
  8. Premiere DuraStone – Hurrah Pattern (Japan)
  9. Pyrex
  10. Queen Anne China

“R” China & Products [Royal]

  1. Royal Albert
  2. Royal Birdsong
  3. Royal China
  4. Royal Crown
  5. Royal Doulton
  6. Royal Grafton
  7. Royal Heritage
  8. Royal M
  9. Royal Norfolk
  10. Royal Staffordshire
  11. Royal Sutherland
  12. Royal Winton
  13. Royal Worcester

“R” China & Products [NOT “Royal”]

  1. Rae Dunn
  2. Red Willow
  3. Roscher Bone China (Made in China)
  4. Rose Pattern — General
  5. Rosina China

“S” China & Products – Spode

  1. Spode — all designs/patterns
  2. Spode “Consul Cobalt” Pattern
  3. Spode “Italian” Pattern Bowl
  4. Spode “Italian” Pattern Dish (older)
  5. Spode “Italian” Pattern — Newer Dish
  6. Spode “Copeland Wicker Lane”
  7. Spode “Christmas Tree” pattern
  8. Spode “Fairy Dell” pattern
  9. Spode “Delamere Blue” pattern
  10. Spode yellow “Albany” pattern
  11. Spode “Blue Chintz” pattern
  12. Spode Gainsborough England China

“S” China & Products — NOT Spode

  1. Sango
  2. Sanyo — Blue Elbe
  3. Sasaki Colorstone — Matte White (Japan)
  4. Sears, Roebuck & Company
  5. Spring Blossom Green
  6. Staffordshire China
  7. Staffordshire Ironstone
  8. Starbucks – Mugs
  9. Sterling China
  10. Sterling China — Nestle’s
  11. Sur La Table
  12. Sweese — general category
  13. Syracuse

“T” China & Products

  1. Target
  2. Target Cravings (by Chrissy Teigen)
  3. Target Hearth & Hand (by Chip & Joanna Gaines)
  4. Target Home
  5. Target Threshold
  6. Thomas (Germany)
  7. Thomas Rosenthal Group China (Made in Germany)
  8. Tiffany
  9. Tupperware

“U-V-W-X-Y-Z” China & Products

  1. Unbranded (no visible brand or back mark)
  2. Vale Bone China — Longton, England
  3. Vietri
  4. Waechtersbach
  5. Waterford
  6. Wedgwood
  7. Wedgwood & Co – Chateau Pattern
  8. Wedgwood – Williamsburg Aviary (Made in England)
  9. Williams Sonoma
  10. Willow Ware
  11. World Market
  12. You Are Special Today (Red Plate)

Country (or City or State) of Origin Links

Last updated: Friday, May 29, 2021 – 13:17 p.m.

Tamara's Toxic Holiday Dishes Guide: Do my dishes have Lead? Tamara's Toxic Holiday Dishes Guide: Do my dishes have Lead? Tamara's Toxic Holiday Dishes Guide: Do my dishes have Lead?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Alisa says

    Definitely unsettling how does one go through their entire house I don’t think I’ll have anything left..

    Reply

  3. Shane Duvall says

    Hi Tamara! You do in fact have our ‘family dishware’ listed here as containing Lead..
    It is precisely the model you show, above. The MEMORY LANE one…
    I’m just curious as to ‘how much lead’ in fact they contain, or measured
    in ppm?
    Sincere thanks! Shane

    Reply

  6. Susan says

    Hi Tamara,
    I’ve just stumbled across your website and am stunned to say the least. I have Corelle “Lace Bouquet” purchased in 1986. They hav everyday dishes for almost 40 years. Have you tested those?
    Thanks,
    Susan

    Reply

  7. Darha Nigro says

    I have found that many of my & passed down dish sets are unsafe. I’ve been trying to research for myself & my future daughter in law. I found two companies that say their dishes have no lead, other heavy metals & cadmium. They also follow CA Proposition 65. I emailed them & they do not share the reports of the lead, etc. Both companies manufactured in Portugal.
    1) Year and Day
    2) Rigby
    Have you tested either of these brands?
    Thank you so much for your knowledge & efforts,
    Darha

    Reply

  8. Rusty says

    I appreciate the info on Spode Delamere, however not knowing the year of manufacture of the dish tested how is it possible to determine if newly made dishes (2020 -2022) of Delamere are not lead safe? I have a copy of the 2006 regulations from the UK concerning allowable lead content for ceramic dishes, however since I am not a chemical engineer I cannot interpret them. Don’t know how they compare with USA regulations. Look up – STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2006 No. 1179 FOOD The Ceramic Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2006

    Reply

  10. Tracy says

    I have and use daily the Corelle Woodland pattern and haven’t seen any findings on it. I also have the Pfaltzgraff all baby blue dishes that have a white dainty flower on them..I’m not sure of the name, they are vintage and they are new in the original boxes…never used them..
    Can you offer any advice about these sets i have. Blessings Tracy

    Reply

  13. Annie says

    Hi. I have Gibson Christmas set. Blue snowflakes and blue snowman and red holly in the middle. I also have Corelle Rosemarie set. Is this included in your test?

    Reply

  15. James says

    Hello Tamara, have you ever come across dinner plates that the brand; Retroneu shown on the bottom? I’m wondering about the lead content.
    Ours say :
    RetroneU
    Baroque China
    China 4266

    Regards,
    James R.

    Reply

  17. Rosan Prier says

    I came across your article by accident when I was researching my new vintage dinner dishes I just purchased yesterday at thrift store, to see their replacement value. Your site popped up and caught my interest as the brand was in your lead line. Was horrified to discover they were like 38,000 ppm’s of lead. These were going to be my everyday dishes. Hadn’t worried or thought about lead before. So today I spent all day studying your page. Discovered most of my dishes I use every day are all toxic, except the Polish Pottery. After reading your recommendations just ordered tons of white Corelle to replace everything that will soon be in the trash. Thank you Thank you for your article and research. I am a new fan.

    Reply

  18. Lilly says

    Have you tested any lusterware so far? Especially ranging from the 1910s to 1950s? I have demitasse cups that are embossed lusterware from both Germany and Japan, and I’m guessing that there’s lead in them, but it would be great to see some results of similar items.

    Reply

  19. Becky says

    Are you familiar with camelot china carrousel 1315 japan? I’m curious if it contains lead. It looks like it was made before 1970.

    Reply

    • SarahS says

      Thank you for all you do! I am curious about this camelot china also! I would be happy to send in a piece for you to test if you’re willing, Tamara!

      Reply

  20. Jody Reince says

    My 94 yr old mom has plates given to her by her mom. They are called Golden Wheat made in USA 22K gold. Do you know if they are safe?

    Reply

    • Robin says

      I would like to know about the Golden Wheat dishware too. I have a set and don’t want to use them if they are unsafe. Thank you.

      Reply

  21. Chris Vaughn says

    Thank you for doing this work – very important!
    Have you tested Corelle in the plain ivory color that is no longer made? No painted decoration on it.

    Reply

  22. Jan says

    Yikes! That Homer Laughlin pattern in your photos was my mother’s set of “good china.” I still have that very serving platter in my buffet. Fortunately we don’t use it. I keep it as a memory of my mother. I have SO much old and not that old “stuff” that you’ve tested as positive for lead and other hazards. I’m wondering how we made it through childhood in the 50s. No seatbelts, no car seats, and lead and asbestos everywhere. Thank you for your work and information.

    Reply

  23. Emily says

    I have some Noritake Casual Gourmet, Gourmet Garden made in Sri Lanka. This was purchased around 1984.
    and Noritake Progression, Bright Side made in Japan.  Not sure how old this is.  This could be from 1974 or earlier.
    Can you tell me if these are safe to use?

    Reply

  24. Susan says

    I have Dansk, some from Japan (no lead) and some from Portugal (lead–they are now gone). As I try to find replacements to fill out the set, I’m seeing Sri Lanka and Thailand. Have you tested any Dansk made in those countries?

    Reply

  25. Margarita K. says

    Hi, I just found your site looking up my husband’s mother’s old dishes. She had a set from Noritake called Althea. Seems they’re from the 30’s. Based on what I’ve read I’d assume there’s lead in the paint since they were made so long ago?
    I’m also wondering if you have any info about the Royal Copenhagen blue fluted line? Their site says they’re made with an under-glaze technique and are suitable for microwave and dishwasher use. I’d assume they’re safe to eat off of then? But who knows….

    Reply

  26. Sparks says

    Hello! I came across your blog while researching the set of china I had been passed down by my grandmother. Would you by chance know if Walbrzych China made in Poland contains lead? The China was manufactured in 1960 if I’m not mistaken and is white with a silver boarder around the outside of the dishes.

    Reply

  27. Susan says

    I just found out about the Bunnykins lead situation and am devastated. I’ve been feeding my 4 kids with these bowls (given to me by my mom) for over 10 years – every day. How do I navigate my feelings that I’ve ruined their brains? I’m so sick about this – I’m vigilant about our old house and lead dust (to a point that is unhealthy, as it’s made me feel insane) but to know I’ve been serving my kids soup and oatmeal in their bunnykins bowls for their entire lives has had a real detrimental impact on my mental
    health. I feel like they’ll have no chance to succeed as adults. Do you address how parents can manage their worries post-exposure on your website? The data is so depressing and concerning, I’m having a hard time finding a way to move forward.

    Reply

  29. Eva George says

    I have China and on the back it says ” Fine Camelot China from Bavaria West Germany” They have yellow and black roses and light brown leaf’s. I bought them from Lifetime Stainless Steel the same time I bought there cookware, about 1965. Have you had any results from them?

    Reply

  31. Chelsea P says

    Hi Tara. Thank you so much for all you do. I reference your website a ton when making purchases for my home & family. I recently purchased a new set of dishes and glassware from Ikea, using your guidance, because I’m concerned about the dishware I have and have been using for over 10 years. I have read about Fiestaware on your site, but can’t find anything on the Temp-rations presentable ovenware by Tara. Have you tested this brand?

    Reply

  33. Andrea says

    My husband, myself, and our children have been eating on Royal China “Blue Heaven” pattern for years. Have you tested this product previously? I didn’t see it specifically on the list. Thank you.

    Reply

  34. Debbie says

    I just purchased a set of vintage Corelle Calloway Ivy Pattern. I went online to see if the tumblers are dishwasher safe and discovered the concerns with lead content in vintage dishes. I looked for the Calloway Pattern and haven’t found anything for this pattern. No news good news? Thank you so much!

    Reply

  35. Sonja Beach says

    Have you ever tested Gold Castle “Hostess” pattern made in Japan? Some of it was made in occupied Japan. It’s old. I have a teapot and a few teacups and salad plates.

    Reply

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