When tested with an XRF instrument the Spode “Made in England” Italian pattern dish had the following readings:
Test one on food surface of plate:
- Barium (Ba): 862 +/- 56 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 2,881 +/- 122 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 96 +/- 35 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 889 +/- 153 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 43 +/- 12 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,526 +/- 89 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 3,422 +/- 175 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 1,570 +/- 45 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 1,261 +/- 129 ppm
Test two on food surface of plate
Darkest blue part of glaze:
- Lead (Pb): 25 +/- 11 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 751 +/- 54 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 2,626 +/- 114 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 80 +/- 34 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 781 +/- 146 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 44 +/- 12 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,454 +/- 88 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 3,140 +/- 166 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 3,307 +/- 201 ppm
Test three on food surface of plate:
- Barium (Ba): 791 +/- 54 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 2,705 +/- 114 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 152 +/- 37 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 835 +/- 146 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 35 +/- 12 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,420 +/- 85 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 3,199 +/- 165 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 1,520 +/- 43 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 3,252 +/- 196 ppm
Note: back mark has similar readings (also negative for Lead)
Tests results are science-based and replicable. All tests are done for a minimum of 60 seconds unless otherwise noted. Tests are repeated multiple times to confirm the results, using a freshly calibrated XRF instrument testing in consumer goods mode. Metals not listed in above test results sets were not detected with testing done in “consumer goods mode”.
The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint, glaze or coating. At 25 ppm Lead (and with that level found only in the darkest blue elements of this Spode plate) this dish falls well within that standard and would be considered safe by ALL standards (including if we were to consider it an “item intended for use by children” – which regulatory agencies do not.)
I will update this post shortly with the year of purchase (as soon as I communicate with the owner!) Based on the testing of Spode china I have done in recent items I believe this was manufactured new in the past 5 or 10 years (possibly more recently.)
Some additional reading you may be interested in….
- To see more Spode pieces I have tested, click here.
- To see more “Made in England” pieces I have tested, click here.
- To see more china I have tested, click here.
As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Please let me me have any questions!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
I appreciate having this information on Spode Blue Italian, which I purchased for my daughter in 2001. I am interested in knowing when your sample Blue Italian plate was purchased. I have been looking for lead and cadmium levels in Spode Consul Cobalt that I also bought in 2001 and can’t find anything. Thank you for all the great work that you do.
I have been considering replacing my Mikasa English Countryside with Spode Blue Italian. Can you tell me if I can tell by the backstamp when this one you are showing was made. What is the safety window or cut off year for being lead safe?
If the backstop matches this one it should be lead-safe. I don’t know when this was made but it was “newer” as of the publish date for this post.
I would don’t get ANY Spode or Mikasa that is more than 5 years old – and frankly both brands have terrible unethical track records when it comes to Lead so I would not give them any of my business.
Here’s the SPODE category here on the website with more dishes you can look at (with their test results):
https://tamararubin.com/category/spode/
Here’s the MIKASA category:
https://tamararubin.com/category/mikasa/
This post discusses the concern in greater detail:
https://tamararubin.com/topics/does-vintage-and-new-functional-pottery-and-dishware-have-unsafe-levels-of-lead/
Tamara
Thank you for your reply. I have concerns about my English Countryside because I think I have had it longer than ten years. It has been getting pretty bad metal marks from our stainless which I clean with Bar Keepers Friend but that could wear away the glaze I fear. Over the years I have had Jonson Brothers, Liberty Blue, Old British Castles Pink, Franciscan Apple, and Blue Willow. I am probably lucky to be walking around! Thank you for your work, I never heard any thing about this until I stumbled upon you online!
I just purchased 8 Spode Italian blue dinner plates (2022); I am new to all of this lead safety information, so can you please clarify that 25ppm is indeed an acceptable level? (Not sure if you are saying it technically clocks in as safe, but should not be considered safe). Thank you very much.
What about the brown collection? Are they safe?
Hi
Is the Copeland “Spode’s tower” in the darker blue lead safe? Thank you .
There was no arsenic found in this most recent version; is that correct? Also, have you tested any of the Spode coffee mugs (since 2020)? If you haven’t, would you be willing to?
Thank you so much. I’ve been reading your site all day. Just blown away!