Leaded China

Pottery Barn Great White Ceramic Mug: 130 +/- 12 ppm Lead (Pb). [Relatively Lead-safe; below 90 is safe in kids’ items.]

October 10, 2019October 10, 2019

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…

Arte Italica with metal rim: 439 ppm Lead–a neurotoxin, 68,600 ppm Antimony–a carcinogen. What’s in YOUR dishes?

October 10, 2019October 10, 2019

Below is the full XRF reading set for the food surface of the plate pictured here (a “Made in Italy” Arte Italica plate with a pressed metal rim). This plate is very unusual, in that the metal rim is solid metal banding that is press-fit to the plate — rather than a glazed or painted decorative…

“Made in Italy” Arte Italica Bella Bianca Stoneware: 3,821 ppm Lead. [90 ppm & up is unsafe in kids’ items.]

October 10, 2019October 10, 2019

Here is the full XRF reading for the food surface of the plate (a “Made in Italy” Arte Italica Bella Bianca Stoneware saucer with dark clay and white glaze) pictured here. Center of food surface of saucer: Lead (Pb): 3,821 +/- 144 ppm Barium (Ba): 248 +/- 89 ppm Zinc (Zn): 28,800 +/- 900 ppm…

Limoges dish by Haviland & Co., France: 7,109 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 146 ppm Antimony. What china do you have?

August 25, 2019August 25, 2019

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This piece looks very much like the similar piece posted earlier but has a slightly different color profile and slightly different pattern. It’s possible that they are the same pattern but manufactured in different years. When tested with an XRF instrument this Limoges floral pattern dish by Haviland & Co., Haviland France had the following…

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

August 25, 2019August 25, 2019

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…

2012 Pottery Barn Emma Made In Portugal White Ceramic Saucer: 52 +/- 17 ppm Lead (Pb). Safe by all standards.

August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this Emma design white ceramic saucer Made in Portugal for the Pottery Barn label (which the owner says she purchased new c. 2012) had the following readings: Bottom of saucer (logo area): Lead (Pb): 52 +/- 17 ppm Zinc (Zn): 22,800 +/- 700 ppm Copper (Cu): 230 +/- 51…

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

August 19, 2019August 19, 2019

5 Comments

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…

Vintage “Historical America Betsy Ross Showing The First Flag” Dish by Homer Laughlin: 57,200 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe]

July 20, 2019July 20, 2019

3 Comments

This plate was purchased at an antique store in Oregon in 2018. The text on the back is as follows: Historical America Betsy Ross Showing the First Flag…1777 Homer Laughlin China Co. Made in USA Picture Reproduced From Original Painting By Joseph Boggs Beale Copyright – Modern Enterprises, Philadelphia, Pa. Continue reading below the image….

Vintage Lenox Temper-Ware Fall Bounty Plate: 173,200 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for children) + 1,775 ppm Arsenic

July 20, 2019July 20, 2019

11 Comments

This vintage Temper-ware by Lenox (Made in the USA, Fall Bounty pattern) was a likely source of Lead exposure for a child. Mama sent me this plate to test after she first confirmed it was positive for Lead by testing it with a swab. While not all vintage dishes will test positive with a LeadCheck swab…

Star Wars Storm Trooper ceramic mug (Dollar Store find): 605 ppm Lead (90 is considered unsafe for kids’ items)

July 14, 2019February 18, 2024

2 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 used…

“Made in Italy” saucer – purchased new at Crate & Barrel in 2006: 46,700 ppm Lead. [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

July 8, 2019November 21, 2023

Most decorative Crate and Barrel-purchased dishware that I have tested over the years has been positive for high levels of Lead. Here is the full XRF reading for the food surface of the plate pictured. Plain white center of food surface of saucer: Lead (Pb): 29,100 +/- 700 ppm Barium (Ba): 353 +/- 70…

Royal Stafford Fine Earthenware Plate. English, from Crate & Barrel in 2006: 71,900 ppm Lead. [90 is unsafe for kids.]

July 8, 2019November 21, 2023

2 Comments

I was excited to finally test this plate as I have had several readers ask me if this pattern has Lead. In general (as a rule) most “Royal Stafford” dishes (or “Staffordshire” – or “Made In England” for that matter!) I have tested have been positive for high levels of Lead and most decorative…

Sango Vega Aqua Square Ceramic Dish: 1,219 ppm Lead (90 is considered unsafe in items for use by kids).

June 26, 2019

1 Comment

Oops – this broke in shipping! If you are sending me something to test, please make sure it is very well packed. Here’s a link about how to participate in the collaborative testing I do with my readers. When tested with an XRF instrument the green and white Sango brand dish pictured here had the…

Target Threshold Small Green “Joy” Stoneware Dish: 255 ppm Lead (90 is considered unsafe in items for use by kids)

June 26, 2019April 4, 2024

For those new to the Lead Safe Mama 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 four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

Target Threshold Tiny Orange Stoneware Dish: 362 ppm Cadmium + 87 ppm Lead.

June 26, 2019

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument the (tiny) orange and white Threshold brand dish (from Target) pictured here had the following readings: Test focused on area of dish with orange glaze: (this glaze is inside on the food-surface of the dish) Cadmium (Cd): 362 +/- 24 ppm Barium (Ba): 1,567 +/- 24 ppm Selenium (Se):…

Target Threshold Small Orange Stoneware Dish: 384 ppm Cadmium + 108 ppm Lead.

June 26, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument the orange and white Threshold brand dish (from Target) pictured here had the following readings: Test focused on area of dish with orange glaze: (this glaze is inside and outside of dish & had similar readings in both locations.) Cadmium (Cd): 384 +/- 25 ppm Barium (Ba): 2,040 +/- 122…

Shallow Heath Potteries Bowl (Sausalito, CA): 125,000 ppm Lead. For context: 90 ppm is unsafe in children’s items.

June 16, 2019June 18, 2019

8 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument this blue glazed ceramic bowl by Heath Potteries of Sausalito, California (year of manufacture is unknown) had the following readings: Food Surface / Blue Glazed Interior of Bowl Lead (Pb): 838 +/- 28 ppm Barium (Ba): 585 +/- 38 ppm Antimony (Sb): 25 +/- 12 ppm Tin (Sn): 284…

Grace’s Teaware Purple Flower Saucer: 30,000 ppm Lead [For Context: 90 ppm Lead is unsafe in children’s items.]

June 16, 2019

2 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the Grace’s Teaware saucer pictured here (with purple flowers with green leaves – additional photos below) had the following readings: Green Leaves: Lead (Pb): 30,000 +/- 800 ppm Chromium (Cr): 3,060 +/- 170 ppm Antimony (Sb): 157 +/- 29 ppm Tin (Sn): 84 +/- 23 ppm Zinc (Zn): 11,100…

Crate & Barrel (Thailand) Floral Dish: 92,200 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe in newly manufactured items intended for use by children.

June 9, 2019November 21, 2023

To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE. Please do take a moment to read the exact XRF test results for this item (below), so you can see what is in it (as well as a bit of a list of what is not in it!) To see more Crate & Barrel items I…

Crate & Barrel (Thailand) Floral Plate: 80,300 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids] + 444 ppm Cadmium [causes cancer.]

June 9, 2019November 21, 2023

To learn more about XRF testing, Click HERE. Please do take a moment to read the exact XRF test results for this item (below), so you can see what is in it (as well as a bit of a list of what is not in it!) To see more Crate & Barrel items I…

Mikasa Narumi Japan “Winthrop” Fine China: 4,355 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items.]

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019

5 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument this Mikasa Narumi Japan “Winthrop” Fine China plate (with silver and gray edging) had the following readings: Silver/Gray edging of food surface of dish: Lead (Pb): 4,355 +/- 95 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Negative / Non-Detect Mercury (Hg: Negative / Non-Detect Barium (Ba): Negative / Non-Detect Chromium (Cr): 159 +/- 67…

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…

One of my most disappointing finds recently: purple 2019 ForLife Q Tea Cup w Handle “lead-free” mug: 541 ppm Lead

May 23, 2019January 21, 2023

4 Comments

This story is a perfect example of why I hate recommending any mass-produced product!… Earlier this year (2019) I bought a set of these mugs [ ForLife Q Tea Cup with Handle 10 ounce purple mugs ] as a birthday gift for my good friend Carissa (because I had tested a cute unicorn mug of hers…