English

Portmeirion “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” Coffee Mug, 1972: 49,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe) + Cadmium too.

August 19, 2019August 19, 2019

I do not know the exact year of manufacture of this piece, however the markings indicated it was made in 1972 or later. It is a Portmeirion piece from the collection marked as “The Botanic Garden Circa 1818” and it also has the date “1972” on the bottom as well as the words “Susan Williams-Ellis”,…

1995 Franciscan Desert Rose China, Made in England: 47,800 ppm Lead on the food surface! 90 is unsafe for a child.

July 25, 2019October 23, 2021

15 Comments

When this Franciscan Desert Rose Pattern China (Made in the England by Johnson Brothers in 1995) was tested with an XRF instrument it came in at 47,800 +/- 1,400 ppm lead. It is negative for Cd (cadmium), As (arsenic) and Hg (mercury), however that is one heck of a lot of lead to be found…

Wade Collectable Brown Miniature Monkey Figurine, Made In England: 33 ppm Lead (safe by all standards)

June 18, 2019September 25, 2022

When tested with an XRF instrument this collectable “figurine” of little brown glazed monkey by “Wade England” had the following readings. Lead (Pb): 33 +/- 11 ppm Chromium (Cr): 1,961 +/- 107 Zinc (Zn): 3,853 +/- 139 ppm Iron (Fe): 12,700 +/- 500 ppm Bismuth (Bi): 48 +/- 12 ppm Vanadium (V): 93 +/- 27…

Wade Collectable Blue Gray Miniature Cannonball Figurine, Made In England: 50 ppm Lead (safe by all standards)

June 18, 2019September 25, 2022

When tested with an XRF instrument this collectable “figurine” of a cannon with cannonballs by “Wade England” (with a light blue-gray glaze) had the following readings. Lead (Pb): 50 +/- 10 ppm Barium (Ba): 276 +/- 37 ppm Zinc (Zn): 69 +/- 26 ppm Copper (Cu): 69 +/- 26 ppm Iron (Fe): 3,963 +/- 223…

White Ceramic Royal Stafford Fine Earthenware English Bowl: 66,300 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items.]

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument this white glazed ceramic Royal Stafford Fine Earthenware (Made In England) bowl had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 66,300 +/- 2,000 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect Mercury (Hg: Negative / Non-Detect Barium (Ba): 1,041 +/- 119 ppm Chromium (Cr): Negative / Non-Detect Antimony (Sb): Negative / Non-Detect Selenium…

Blue Willow (c. early 1990s) Churchill Bowl: 57,100 +/- 1,600 ppm Lead. More than 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

May 16, 2019May 16, 2019

8 Comments

The markings on this piece are as follows: “Fine English Tableware” – Churchill – “Made in Staffordshire, England” To see more “Made In England” pieces I have tested, Click Here. To see more Blue Willow pieces I have tested, Click Here. The woman who sent me this bowl told me she purchase it at a Publix Supermarket…

Johnson Brothers Rose Chintz: 49,300 ppm Lead- almost 5%! 87 ppm Antimony. This brand is almost always Leaded.

January 13, 2019December 1, 2019

10 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the exterior glaze of this Johnson Brothers “Rose Chintz” pattern dish (“A Genuine Hand Engraving”- made in England) had the following readings: Each test was done for at least 60 seconds. If a metal is not listed it the set of results below it was not detected by the…

c. 1967-1976 Royal Doulton Bunnykins Baby Bowl: 61,800 ppm Lead on the FOOD surface (90 is unsafe for kids)

December 7, 2018January 31, 2024

10 Comments

Published: December 7, 2018 Updated: September 2022 What’s frankly terrifying about this bowl is how much paint has worn off of the decoration on the inside food surface. Take a good look at the image below (you can click on it for a full resolution image). To see more Bunnykins sets I have tested, click HERE….

1988 Royal Doulton English Fine Bone China Bunnykins Baby Bowl: 10,100 ppm Lead on the FOOD surface

December 7, 2018January 31, 2024

1 Comment

1988 Royal Doulton English Fine Bone China Bunnykins Baby Bowl: 10,100 ppm Lead on the FOOD surface. The 1988 backmark is for pieces made between 1988 and 1993. The amount of Lead that is considered illegal/ unsafe in a newly-manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the…

Johnson Brothers English Greydawn Teacup & Saucer: 37,400+ ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

December 2, 2018March 18, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this Johnson Brothers “Greydawn” teacup & saucer had the following readings when tested with an XRF instrument: Lead (Pb): 37,400 +/- 800 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative / Non-Detect Mercury (Hg): Negative / Non-Detect To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE. To see more…

Duchess Bone China Saucer, Made In England – Rose Pattern: 70,900 ppm Lead

November 4, 2018

Please click the link below for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Duchess Bone China Saucer, Made In England – Rose Pattern: 49,000 ppm Lead When tested with an XRF instrument, this dish had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 70,900 +/- 2,300 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): 269…

Vintage Queen Anne “Country Gardens” Pattern Bone China Teacup: 81,300 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

November 4, 2018March 18, 2019

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vintage Queen Anne “Country Gardens” Pattern Bone China Teacup. Made in England. When tested with an XRF instrument, this teacup had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 81,300 +/- 2,800 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): Negative/Non-Detect Chromium (Cr): Negative/Non-Detect…

Vale Saucer Made in Longton England: 54,600 ppm Lead. 90 ppm Lead is considered unsafe in items used by kids.

November 4, 2018September 1, 2019

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vale Saucer Made in Longton, England. Floral Pattern (pattern name not marked on piece). When tested with an XRF instrument, this saucer had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 54,600 +/- 1,600 ppm Mercury (Hg): Negative/Non-Detect Arsenic (As): Negative/Non-Detect Cadmium (Cd): Negative/Non-Detect Barium (Ba): Negative/Non-Detect…

Vintage Johnson Brothers Fish Plate (Design No. 3), Made in England: 70,800 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids)

November 2, 2018March 13, 2024

Please click the link for help finding safer choices for your holiday table. Vintage “Fish” dinner plate by Johnson Brothers, “Made in England” “Design No. 3” “A genuine hand engraving” “All decoration under the glaze. Detergent & acid resisting colour.” For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning…

XRF Test Results For Portmeirion “The Botanic Garden” Plate, c. 1972

October 26, 2018October 26, 2018

11 Comments

As expected (based on the testing of this brand that I have done to date) the food surface of this plate was positive for high levels of lead when tested with an XRF instrument. To learn more about XRF testing, click here. Here’s the XRF test results for this exact piece: Lead (Pb): 41,100 +/-…

Johnson Brothers Wedgwood Group Blue Willow Earthenware Octagonal Plate: 52,400 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe!]

July 21, 2018August 12, 2019

2 Comments

This is a (c. 1980) Johnson Bros. (“A Member Of The Wedgwood Group” – see image below of back mark) Willow Earthenware octagonal plate, made in England. As with this piece with the same back mark [link]. I have not been able to determine the exact age of the piece, based on the back mark alone. If…

Johnson Bros. Willow pattern china. Post 1912, England. 43,100 ppm Lead in the glaze. 90 ppm (& up) is unsafe.*

July 21, 2018December 1, 2019

2 Comments

This vintage Johnson Bros. blue Willow pattern shallow bowl/ saucer (made in England), was likely made after 1912 (based on the back mark, source.) Related: #AskTamara: What do you use to test for Lead? As with nearly all of the Willow pattern china I have tested, it was positive for very high (unsafe) levels of lead…

Q. Are Blue Willow Dishes Lead Free? A. Mostly No!

July 21, 2018May 31, 2023

50 Comments

Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is a multiple-Federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety…

Vintage English Johnson Brothers Mill Stream Ceramic Ironstone Plate: 54,700 ppm Lead, 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

June 23, 2018September 1, 2019

3 Comments

This vintage Johnson Brothers Mill Stream ceramic “Ironstone” dish tested positive for the following levels when tested with an XRF instrument: Lead (Pb): 54,700 +/- 1,700 ppm Barium (Ba): 489 +/- 104 ppm Tin (Sn): 1,261 +/- 78 ppm Zinc (Zn): 3,461 +/- 178 ppm Iron (Fe): 540 +/- 181 ppm For more information about…

English 1976 Liberty Blue saucer with Boston’s Old North Church: 44,100 ppm Lead. This should NOT be used for food!

June 20, 2018March 15, 2022

2 Comments

Published: June 20, 2018 So many families have these dishes! They are truly works of art, and a piece of history (even though they were mass-manufactured only about 40 years ago.) My understanding, from doing a little online research, is that this line with the “Historical Colonial Scenes” was manufactured in 1976 for the United…

Vintage Spode Christmas Tree Plate, Made In England: 71,900 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

June 14, 2018November 23, 2023

11 Comments

For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method…

Spode Vintage “Fairy Dell” English China: 36,400 ppm Lead + Arsenic! 90 ppm Lead (& up) is unsafe in kids’ items.

March 21, 2018November 21, 2023

Copeland Spode Vintage “Fairy Dell” China, Made in England. This dish the following test results when tested with an XRF instrument: Lead (Pb): 36,400 +/- 1,400 ppm Arsenic (As): 2,332 +/- 288 ppm Cadmium (Cd): “ND” (non-detect)/ Negative Mercury (Hg): “ND” (non-detect)/ Negative To learn more about XRF testing, Click Here. For context: The amount of…

Spode “Delamere Blue” China: 47,500 ppm Lead (90 ppm + is unsafe in items intended for use by children.)

March 6, 2018November 29, 2019

4 Comments

This Spode brand yellow “Delamere Blue” pattern china (Made in England) was positive for lead when tested with an XRF instrument. It came in at 47,500 ppm lead (+/- 1,500 ppm). For context: The amount of lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm in the coating…

Spode Yellow Albany Pattern China: 43,900 ppm Lead. (90+ ppm Lead is unsafe in items used by kids.)

March 6, 2018November 29, 2019

This Spode brand yellow “Albany” pattern china (Made in England) was positive for Lead when tested with an XRF instrument. It came in at 43,900 ppm Lead (+/- 1,400 ppm). For context: the amount of lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for children is 90 ppm in the coating or…