1960s Purple Enamelware Ashtray: 601,600 ppm Lead [more than 60%!] + 11,100 ppm Cadmium [This was my mother’s].

This is just ONE reason that I don’t like enamelware.

I have enormous sentimental attachment to this particular piece because it reminds me both of my mother and my childhood. It reminds me of all the craft fairs that we used to go to when I was young (where we would sell my mother’s pottery) and of all of the artists we used to be friends with. Really too much to express in words. Plus it is purple!!! [My favorite color!]

Continue reading below the image.

Now that I have re-tested it and have been reminded of how high Lead it is (especially since the back is chipping) I have put it in a box headed to storage where it will stay until I decide what to do with it… I expect one day I might eventually put it in a shadow box with a story about my mother and my childhood.

Some day.

In the meantime here are the full sets of readings for this piece when it was tested with an XRF instrument. Each test was done for at least 60 seconds. The results are replicable and scientifically accurate.

Purple surface of ashtray:

• Lead (Pb): 601,600 +/- 111,000 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 984 +/- 244 ppm
• Antimony (Sb): 4,706 +/- 1,036 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 8,525 +/- 1,949 ppm

Back side of ashtray (chipping):

• Lead (Pb): 535,100 +/- 71,000 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 11,100 +/- 2,200 ppm
• Bromine (Br): 549 +/- 136 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 11,000 +/- 1,600 ppm
• Nickel (Ni): 6,337 +/- 1,052 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 7,779 +/- 1,680 ppm

To see more enamelware pieces I have tested (both new and vintage) click here.

Especially given the degree to which this is already chipping (as an example of how all items like this can and do chip) I do not recommend keeping functional (non wall art) pieces like this in your home.

As always please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama