I was excited to finally test this plate as I have had several readers ask me if this pattern has Lead. In general (as a rule) most “Royal Stafford” dishes (or “Staffordshire” – or “Made In England” for that matter!) I have tested have been positive for high levels of Lead and most decorative Crate and Barrel purchased dishware that I have tested has also been positive for Lead.
To see more Royal Stafford pieces I have tested, click here.
Important point to highlight (as illustrated by this dish): just because something is “simple” and “plain white” does also not mean that it is likely Lead-free!
Here is the full XRF reading for the food surface of the plate pictured.
- Lead (Pb): 71,900 +/- 2,300 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 1,039 +/- 131 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 4,902 +/- 233 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 809 +/- 204 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 657 +/- 81 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 1,398 +/- 141 ppm
The back mark on this piece says “Royal Stafford Fine Earthenware Plate” and “Made in England.” The owner told me she purchased it at Crate & Barrel – between 10 and 20 years ago (I am going to check with her and get the exact year of purchase and will update this post as soon as I hear back from her.)
XRF readings are done in “Consumer Goods Mode” for a minimum of 60 seconds unless otherwise noted. Results are science-based and replicable. Metals not listed above were not detected by the XRF instrument.
The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe (and illegal) in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead (or higher) in the paint, finish or glaze. Dishes (new and vintage) are not considered to be “items intended for use by children” and are not regulated in the same way toys are (with limits on XRF detectable levels of Lead.) It is my assertion that they should be. If a toy is considered unsafe at 90 ppm Lead, then a dish most definitely should be considered unsafe at those same levels.
In general Crate & Barrel (and Pottery Barn for that matter!) dishes test poorly and I never recommend them (especially in the absence of independent testing done on each and every single pattern). Even though some of their brand new plain white patterns have tested Lead-free, I do not recommend anything from those companies and would personally never shop at those stores.
To see more Crate & Barrel pieces I have tested, click here.
To see more Pottery Barn pieces I have tested, click here.
To see more examples of white china I have tested, click here.
As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Hi! We have these exact dishes from Crate and Barrel, 2003. I was looking to replace them, and when I googled them… your website came up! These plates are all cracking and chipping, and have lines throughout , which I think I read is even more evidence of lead?? My memory is horrible! Could this be why?? You mentioned 2006… Do you think the 2003 plates are lead laden, as well?? Thank you! Should I get rid of them immediately?? I have a 12 and 15 year old
I stumbled in your website searching to purchase additional pieces. I have the exact same dishes and several serving pieces. Ugh! I reached out to Crate and Barrel to let them know, but they have no record of the pattern. Even if purchased 15 or 20 years ago, they still need to be made aware. This is opening my eyes up to a whole new world. Tamara, is there a lead test that I can purchase that you recommend? I’ve researched and I know the 3m is epa approved, but is there anything else out there you recommend?
Thank you!
Laura