This is a rare find. A piece of Mexican pottery that is marked and sold as Lead-free that is ACTUALLY Lead-free. The reason for this is that it is entirely unglazed. I think this is a terrific option if you are looking for a bean pot or cooking vessel of this type and if I had a reason to use this I would have no concerns about using it in my home. The other metals found in the product are natural components of the clay.
What I really love about this piece is that it clearly contradicts what so many potteries argue … that there is always going to be a “natural” level of Lead in base clay for any ceramic items. That claim is simply not true.
When tested with an XRF instrument this (brand new) piece had the following readings:
- Lead (Pb): Non-Detect
- Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect
- Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect
- Barium (Ba): Non-Detect
- Chromium (Cr): 1,067 +/- 57 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect
- Selenium (Se): Non-Detect
- Zinc (Zn): 92 +/- 14 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 115 +/- 24 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 333 +/- 46 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 67,400 +/- 1,000 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 221 +/- 26 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 1,904 +/- 72 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 631 +/- 128 ppm
- Other metals not listed were not detected.
[Note: Test was done for a full 180 seconds (Three minutes) and repeated multiple times to confirm the readings. This is one full set of readings.]
To see more Mexican pottery pieces I have tested, click here.
A big thank you to Janice for sending this in to be tested!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Pictures below show the pot in different lighting. The outdoor lighting is more true-to-color.
is this it? https://www.ranchogordo.com/products/110-mixteca-pot
Love your blog thanks!
Hi Angela,
Yes I believe that is the same as the one I tested.
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
I am wondering the actual measurements of this clay pot. It is difficult to see the actual size in the pictures.
Tamara thank you so much for all the hard work you have done. I’m grateful to have found your site. Have you ever heard of La Chambra clay cookware! I own couple of their pieces and the meat cooked in them is delicious. They don’t use glazing and claim the clay to be lead free. Would you ever consider testing one if sent to you? Thank you
Hi there – I don’t believe I have tested those. Here’s how the testing works (I am next available for testing in June):
https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/can-i-send-in-one-of-my-dishes-or-other-items-to-test-for-lead-yes-maybe-but-read-this-first-thanks/
Tamara