Handmade Ceramics

XRF Test Results for Glazed Handmade Ceramic cup (sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from California)

XRF Test Results for Glazed Handmade Ceramic cup (sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from California)

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Handmade ceramic mug with white, blue & brown glaze: 39 ppm Lead in the substrate & 23 ppm on the food surface (safe by all standards).

Handmade ceramic mug with white, blue & brown glaze: 39 ppm Lead in the substrate & 23 ppm on the food surface (safe by all standards).

6 Comments
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Reading #1) Unglazed white base-clay of mug 60-second reading Lead (Pb): 39 +/- 4 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 5 +/- 2 ppm Mercury (Hg): non-detect Bromine (Br): non-detect Chromium (Cr): non-detect Iron (Fe): 3,910 +/ 84 ppm Zinc (Zn): 212 +/- 9 ppm Titanium (Ti): 2,629 +/- 442 ppm Indium (In): 5 +/- 2 ppm Tin…

Handmade ceramic bowl with red, brown and gray glaze: Lead-free glaze + trace Lead in the substrate.

Handmade ceramic bowl with red, brown and gray glaze: Lead-free glaze + trace Lead in the substrate.

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Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a Federal award winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and childhood Lead poisoning prevention. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

Small handmade green glazed ceramic dish: 23 ppm Lead + 6 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

Small handmade green glazed ceramic dish: 23 ppm Lead + 6 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

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Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a Federal award winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and childhood Lead poisoning prevention. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #1: 29 ppm Lead + 4 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #1: 29 ppm Lead + 4 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

3 Comments
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July 24, 2021 – Saturday Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #2: 11 ppm Lead + 5 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #2: 11 ppm Lead + 5 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

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July 24, 2021 – Saturday Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #3: 43 ppm Lead + 5 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #3: 43 ppm Lead + 5 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

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July 24, 2021 – Saturday Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #4: 9 ppm Lead + 5 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #4: 9 ppm Lead + 5 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

3 Comments
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July 24, 2021 – Saturday Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #5: 17,800 ppm Lead in the yellow glaze.

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #5: 17,800 ppm Lead in the yellow glaze.

1 Comment
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July 24, 2021 – Saturday Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #6: 37 ppm Lead + 4 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

Modern Handmade Japanese Ceramic Dishes Example #6: 37 ppm Lead + 4 ppm Cadmium. Safe by all standards.

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July 24, 2021 – Saturday Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses XRF testing (a scientific…

Handmade ceramic mug [markings: “G. Nikolaou”; “2000”] – 351,500 ppm Lead (this is an alarmingly high level of Lead)

Handmade ceramic mug [markings: “G. Nikolaou”; “2000”] – 351,500 ppm Lead (this is an alarmingly high level of Lead)

10 Comments
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Posted: June 13, 2020 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses high-precision XRF testing (a scientific…

Handmade Spotted Ceramic Cup: 31 +/- 8 ppm Lead (in the base ceramic) & 18 +/- 7 ppm Cadmium in the red glaze.

Handmade Spotted Ceramic Cup: 31 +/- 8 ppm Lead (in the base ceramic) & 18 +/- 7 ppm Cadmium in the red glaze.

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When tested with an XRF instrument the handmade ceramic teacup pictured here had the following readings: Base yellow of glaze: Barium (Ba): 3,416 +/- 264 ppm (Barium is commonly found in yellow glazes) Tin (Sn): 3,328 +/- 81 ppm Zinc (Zn): 61 +/- 25 ppm Copper (Cu): 332 +/- 35 ppm Iron (Fe): 7,221+/- 187…

Things From Canada – Handmade Look Ceramic Mug: 28 +/- 12 ppm Lead in the substrate (safe by all standards!)

Things From Canada – Handmade Look Ceramic Mug: 28 +/- 12 ppm Lead in the substrate (safe by all standards!)

2 Comments
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When tested with an XRF instrument the brown glazed mug pictured here (sent to me by a reader in Canada) had the following readings: 1) On a part with primarily brown glaze: Lead (Pb): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect / Negative Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect / Negative Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect /…

2018 Handmade Bare Unglazed Ceramic Made in Israel Olive Oil Lamp: Lead-Free (One of three lamps tested.)

2018 Handmade Bare Unglazed Ceramic Made in Israel Olive Oil Lamp: Lead-Free (One of three lamps tested.)

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One of my readers had these shipped directly to me (from Israel) in late-2018. I believe it was an Etsy purchase and there was also a cute note from the Etsy seller in the box! When tested with an XRF instrument this oil lamp had the following readings: Zinc (Zn): 402 +/- 32 ppm Iron…

2018 Handmade Bare Unglazed Ceramic Made in Israel Olive Oil Lamp: 55 ppm Lead (considered safe by all standards).

2018 Handmade Bare Unglazed Ceramic Made in Israel Olive Oil Lamp: 55 ppm Lead (considered safe by all standards).

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One of my readers had these shipped directly to me (from Israel) in late-2018. I believe it was an Etsy purchase and there was also a cute note from the Etsy seller in the box! When tested with an XRF instrument this oil lamp had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 55 +/- 13 ppm Zinc…

2018 Handmade Bare Unglazed Ceramic Made in Israel Olive Oil Lamp: 17 ppm Lead, considered safe by all standards.

2018 Handmade Bare Unglazed Ceramic Made in Israel Olive Oil Lamp: 17 ppm Lead, considered safe by all standards.

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One of my readers had these shipped directly to me (from Israel) in late-2018. I believe it was an Etsy purchase and there was also a cute note from the Etsy seller in the box! When tested with an XRF instrument this oil lamp had the following readings: (180 second / 3-minute test) Lead (Pb):…

Unmarked Handmade Brown Glazed Ceramic Bowl: 91 ppm Lead (Lead-Safe)

Unmarked Handmade Brown Glazed Ceramic Bowl: 91 ppm Lead (Lead-Safe)

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This bowl is handmade and has the name “Shima” handwritten on the bottom. It was given to me to test from a friend in Canada. I do not currently have more information about it. When tested with an XRF instrument it had the following readings… Brown Glazed Interior: (Each test done for at least 60…

Made In Poland – Handmade Ceramic Boleslawiec Mug: 91 ppm Lead, considered safe by all standards.

Made In Poland – Handmade Ceramic Boleslawiec Mug: 91 ppm Lead, considered safe by all standards.

2 Comments
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Handmade in Poland, ceramic Boleslawiec mug. Tested with an XRF instrument. Very low lead (within safe range), between 86 and 91 ppm lead. The amount of lead that is considered toxic in a modern/newly manufactured item intended for children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, glaze or coating – or anything…

#LeadedJewelry: Handmade Ceramic Earrings

#LeadedJewelry: Handmade Ceramic Earrings

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  Glazed ceramic earrings: 87,800 ppm lead!   Jewelry intended for adults is not regulated for total lead content. Items intended for children are regulated by law to be 90 ppm lead or lower. …Not 9,000 ppm lead, and definitely not 90,000 ppm lead +++ Who’s to say that these aren’t given to a child…

#LeadFree: Handmade Ceramic Mug

#LeadFree: Handmade Ceramic Mug

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Handmade ceramic mug No Lead No Mercury 54 ppm Cadmium Tested with an XRF Instrument by an operator trained & certified in using the instrument. Many handmade modern pieces are low-lead or lead-free!  As your local potter if they use lead in their glazes, some may even be marked as lead-free (look on the bottom…

Lead-Safe Handmade Mug

Lead-Safe Handmade Mug

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Purple handmade mug Dark purple: 101 ppm lead White part: 62 ppm Arsenic Tested with an XRF Instrument by an operator trained & certified in using the instrument. Many handmade modern pieces are low-lead or lead-free!  As your local potter if they use lead in their glazes, some may even be marked as lead-free (look…

#LeadFree: Irish Coffee Mugs

#LeadFree: Irish Coffee Mugs

1 Comment
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Lead-Free Handmade Irish Coffee Mugs Tested with an XRF Instrument by an operator trained & certified in using the instrument. Many handmade modern pieces are lead-free!  As your local potter if they use lead in their glazes, some may even be marked as lead-free (look on the bottom of the piece or on the tag…