When tested with an XRF instrument, this “Great White” design white ceramic mug “Made in China” for Pottery Barn had the following readings:
Exterior white glazed surface of the mug:
(XRF instrument cannot fit in the inside of the mug, but glaze is consistent on the interior and exterior so exterior readings should be representative of interior readings)
- Lead (Pb): 130 +/- 12 ppm
- Lead (Pb) reading #2: 120 +/- 11 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 39 +/- 9 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 67 +/- 13 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 61 +/- 22 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 3,962 +/- 188 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 186 +/- 13 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 121 +/- 20 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 118 +/ 24 ppm
- Platinum (Pt): 52 +/- 26 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 467 +/- 139 ppm
Black printed logo area on the bottom of the mug:
- Lead (Pb): 113 +/- 13 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 11 +/- 5 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 3,261 +/- 124 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 60 +/- 15 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 438 +/- 62 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 4,912 +/- 237 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 172 +/- 14 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 123 +/- 25 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 116 +/ 29 ppm
- Indium (In): 21 +/- 8 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 1,272 +/- 111 ppm
Tests are science-based and replicable. Each test was done for a minimum of 90 seconds, with a freshly calibrated XRF instrument, and repeated to confirm the levels found. All metals detected by the XRF instrument (testing in Consumer Goods mode) are listed above.
While dishes are not regulated for total Lead content (as detectable with an XRF instrument), a comparable standard to consider in evaluating Lead-safety in dishes is the standards for toys and other items used by children. Those items are considered safe as long as they fall below 90 ppm Lead in the paint, glaze or coating and below 100 ppm in the substrate (in the case of dishes, this would be the underlying ceramic clay). At 130 +/- 12 ppm Lead, this mug is very close to being within the safe range (by those standards, and other similar standards – both European, and American.)
While most would consider these Great White dishes Lead-safe (and they have likely been leach-tested at the time of manufacture) – and I would have no concern drinking out of one of these if I were to visit your home, as a matter of principle, I personally prefer to use completely Lead-free dishes in my home. Here’s my Amazon affiliate link* to the exact dishes I use every day in my home (a style and brand of dishes I have tested repeatedly over the years and found to be Lead-free – in the plain white options only): https://amzn.to/2NwxTJ1 [If you are interested in purchasing the dishes I use in my home, check the prices at Target before purchasing them on Amazon – as Target may have a better price.]
For my guide to purchasing Lead-free or Lead-safe mugs, click here.
For a quick list of some Lead-free mug options, click here.
To see more Pottery Barn branded items I have tested, click here.
To see more white ceramic dishes I have tested, click here.
As always, thank you for reading and sharing my posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
The testing I report on here on my blog is a collaborative effort with the support of my readers. If you are interested in participating in this testing, please click here for more information about how that works.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Hi Tamara, have you ever tested vintage Tiara Pinecone clear or spearmint clear green dishes? I use these a lot. Thank you, Marisa
I am in a collectors club for currier and ives dishes made by royal china. Do these have high levels of lead?
Hi. Are the white Corelle teacups lead-free?
Hi Tamara
Was looking to buy from Macy’s
Duraliving Radley 12 Piece Double Bowl Dinnerware Set
Are these dishes lead free & safe?
Hi Gracie,
I am not familiar with them. Start by calling the manufacturer and asking for their data sheet.
If you want to send me a dish to test and report on on this blog – here’s how to participate:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
Thank you.
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
Since Pottery Barn was acquired by Williams-Sonoma some time ago, I am a little more concerned about our Williams-Sonoma dishes.
We have a large collection of 2011 Williams-Sonoma ‘Pantry’ -which is white porcelain that looks very similar to the Pottery Barn one you show in this post.
We bought it all-mugs, dishes, plates, cereal bowls, pasta bowls, serving plates…
Based on my new perspective because of your blog(!), I put salad plates and the dinner plates aside and we don’t use them because we regularly heated those in the microwave and they were starting to get knife marks.
However, I still ‘allow’ us to use the Williams-Sonoma cereal bowls regularly, large pasta bowls (occasionally) and my husband and I use the coffee mugs for hot beverages (often).
What are your thoughts? I sense you will say to throw them all away. Please be brutally honest 😉
Ever grateful,
Erica
Hi Erica,
I would really need to see images of the dishes to make an educated guess. Front and back. I definitely don’t trust Williams Sonoma either (look up “Williams Sonoma” on the blog for some examples). The modern (last 5 years) plain white dishes from these company tend to be either Lead-free or Low-Lead – with the exception of the back marks which can be 2,000 to 5,000 ppm Lead.
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
Thank you so much for all the information you provide on your website. I am looking to replace my china set because I’m sure it contains lead now that I’ve read your posts. I see that Pottery Barn’s newer lines “e.g., the “Classic Rim” set) state “lead free” in the product information. In your opinion, can that statement be trusted?
Thank you so much,
Margaret
Greetings Tamara, I used to work in an Industrial application of Engineering and we were appalled how many products China sends to the U.S.A. with high LEAD content. Here is my question, throughout the years, in our travels about the U.S.A., we purchased coffee/tea mugs as memorabilia of our adventures. What I have noticed, is some have dark gray/black marks in/on their internal bottom surfaces as well as sides. Are these marks a indication of LEAD content?
Hello! Thank you so much for your research! I have the Pottery Barn 2012 Great White dinnerware and entire collection we revived as a wedding gift. Have you tested this particular year of Great White? I am concerned about these. Your Great white looks like a different style. I checked mine and they do say Great White on the bottom. Thank you!
Is this true of all the great White collection probably? We have the great white dishes that we purchased about 4 years ago. Thanks!