Limoges dish by Haviland & Co., France: 2,337 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 366 ppm Arsenic. What china do you have?

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): 2,337 +/- 62 ppm
Arsenic (As): 366 +/- 41 ppm
Barium (Ba): 2,273 +/- 230 ppm
Chromium (Cr): 212 +/- 91 ppm
Tin (Sn): 104 +/- 36 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 85 +/- 17 ppm
Nickel (Ni): 60 +/- 19 ppm
Iron (Fe): 1,675 +/- 87 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): 60 +/- 25 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.

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