Limoges dish by Haviland & Co., France: 7,109 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 146 ppm Antimony. What china do you have?

This piece looks very much like the similar piece posted earlier but has a slightly different color profile and slightly different pattern. It’s possible that they are the same pattern but manufactured in different years.

When tested with an XRF instrument this Limoges floral pattern dish by Haviland & Co., Haviland France had the following readings:

On the food surface – with the scope on the flowers the center:

• Lead (Pb): 7,109 +/- 183 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 636 +/- 91 ppm
• Antimony (Sb): 146 +/- 21 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 929 +/- 67 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 93 +/- 39 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 2,228 +/- 226 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 162 +/- 31 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 266 +/- 44 ppm
• Silver (Ag): 17 +/- 6 ppm

This item was tested for a minimum of 60 seconds, and tested multiple times to confirm the results. Testing is done with an XRF instrument used in “Consumer Goods” mode. Results are science-based, accurate, and replicable. The XRF used is the same instrument used by the United States Consumer Product Safety commission for testing consumer goods for toxicity.

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Why is this much Lead a problem?

For context (so you have a better understanding of what the above numbers may indicate): newly manufactured items intended for use by children are considered unsafe (and illegal) if the glaze, paint or coating is greater than 90 ppm Lead (as detectable with an XRF.) Dishware (modern and vintage) is not regulated in the same way (or with the same strict standards) as toys and other items intended for use by children. In my opinion dishware (which is also used by children) should be regulated in the same way (and with the same limits) as toys and other modern items intended for use by children.

I do not recommend ever using vintage china for food use purposes. Nearly every example of vintage china with a floral pattern on the food surface (that I have tested) has been positive for a very high level of Lead when tested with an XRF instrument. Here’s my Amazon affiliate link* for the Lead-free dishes we use every day in our home: https://amzn.to/2Zs6dHR

To see more “Made in France” pieces I have tested, click here.

To see more Limoges pieces I have tested, click here.

To see more pieces of vintage floral pattern china I have tested, click here.

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

Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama

*Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I may receive a small percentage (usually 4 to 6%) of what you spend at no extra cost to you.