When tested with an XRF instrument the exterior glaze of this Johnson Brothers “Rose Chintz” pattern dish (“A Genuine Hand Engraving”- made in England) had the following readings:
Each test was done for at least 60 seconds. If a metal is not listed it the set of results below it was not detected by the XRF instrument. Results are science-based, accurate and replicable.
Decorative/Colored Food Surface of Plate:
- Lead (Pb): 48,200 +/- 1,300 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Antimony (Sb): 87 +/- 31 ppm
- Tin (Se): 866 +/- 54 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 1,187 +/- 208 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 167 +/- 50 ppm
Section of Plate with Only White/Cream Glaze:
- Lead (Pb): 49,300 +/- 1,300 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect
- Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect
- Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect
- Tin (Se): 296 +/- 32 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 1,040 +/- 32 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 181 +/- 51 ppm
Continue reading below the image.
I would personally NEVER use Johnson Brothers china in my home AND if you served me food on Johnson Brothers china at your home, I would not eat it. “Grade F”
- To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE.
- To see more Johnson Brothers pieces I have tested, Click HERE.
- To see more vintage china I have tested, Click HERE.
- To read about the Lead-free dishes I use in my home, Click HERE.
- To answer the question “Can I test my dishes myself at home?“, Click HERE.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Rhonda Biles says
Darn! This bums me out! I love my JB Rose Chintz! I never would have thought that they would contain lead!! These dishes were my parents ‘casual’ dining set they got when they married, and I have several pieces from that set – dinner and salad plates. I’ve been eating off of them my whole life. I am now 50.
I am grateful for this information, and will immediately cease to use them for edibles. They will look lovely under my potted plants 🙂 !
Thank you for your posts!
Tamara says
Hi Rhonda,
Sorry & You are very welcome! If you have been eating off of these on a regular basis your whole life, I would definitely consider getting a blood lead test. Let me know if you have questions about that. Tell your doctor that you just learned of a potential exposure source and you want to get checked. It should be covered by insurance. Here’s a story that supports that concern: https://tamararubin.com/2018/04/a-short-story-of-a-small-vintage-ceramic-bowl-from-wisconsin-and-a-boy-that-was-poisoned/
Tamara
Linda says
I just bought a used set of Rose Chintz but it’s relatively new as it says “ microwave & dishwasher safe “ on it.
Do you know it the newer China has heavy metals in it too? Thank you!
Tamara says
Hi Linda,
I am not sure what you mean by “relatively new” – the microwave-safe labeling has been used for 30+ years. Any china from that brand that is more than 10 years old (and even some newer china examples too) will be likely to have high levels of Lead in them. I have never tested a Johnson Brothers piece (that I can recall) that was Lead-free. They are a brand I would always recommend avoiding.
Here’s the Johnson Brothers category on the blog with more examples of the lead levels of these pieces for you to consider:
https://tamararubin.com/category/johnson-bros/
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara Rubin
B Chorak says
Tamara,
I see lots about Johnson Brothers Dishes…..but not specifically Historic America. Is it also full of lead? I see it is still for sale on other sites. I have a large set of Johnson Brothers Historic America. Thank you for any information.
Bebs Chorak
Tamara says
Hi Bebs,
Here’s an Historic America dish https://tamararubin.com/2019/07/vintage-ceramic-historical-america-betsy-ross-showing-the-first-flag-dish-by-homer-laughlin-57200-ppm-lead-90-is-unsafe/
Do yours look like that one? Are you sure your Historic America dishes are Johnson Brothers?
Thanks for commenting.
Tamara
Bebs Chorak says
‘Yes: Historic America. A genuine hand engraving. Johnson Brothers, England. Patent #111255
The set is blue with various historic scenes.. Has oak leaves and acorns around the edge. It does not look like
the plate in your link. Thanks for any information. We also have the same in pink……
Leeanna says
Hi Tamara, I am thankful for this information! Can you clarify this – the rose chintz, but also other popular Johnson bros styles were reproduced in more recent years. I actually have both old and new versions, what I would like to know is if you have ever tested or could test, the newer version which is made in China now.
thank you!
Tamara says
Hi Leeanna,
I don’t believe that I have ever tested a Johnson Brothers piece that was Lead free. However if they have brand new 2019 stock made in China it is possible it is Lead-free but it is also possible it has Lead – new china does not equal Lead-free china. Here’s a good example of that: https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/2019-holiday-home-interamerican-products-traditional-tidings-santa-plate-3168-ppm-lead-90-is-unsafe-for-kids-442-ppm-cadmium-causes-cancer/
If you are interested in participating in the testing I do and report here on the blog – here’s a post about how that works: https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
Thank you for commenting!
Tamara
Elaine Dealy says
Thank you for the information. This is really sad bc I have a huge collection of JB china. I love the white-on-white patterns as well as Rose Chintz. I’ll need to find a brand that is safe.