Leaded China

XRF Test Results For Cardew Design Made in China (Designed In England) Wizard of Oz Commemorative Mug Set

September 8, 2018

Below are the XRF readings for this commemorative Wizard of Oz mug set. This set is from Cardew Design North America Inc and was made in 2011 (after the CPSC regulation limiting the amount of lead in items made for use by and marketed to children!) While the company might argue that this is not…

An Interesting Article About Vintage / Historic Fiestaware Toxicity

September 3, 2018January 1, 2019

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#LeadedChina | #LeadedDishes | Fiesta | Fiestaware | Leaded China

From the article linked below (Source ORAU.org): “The accompanying photo shows two pieces of Fiestaware produced by the Homer Laughlin Company of West Virginia: a Fiesta red saucer and an ivory bowl. In each case, uranium was used to provide the color of the glaze. Although the radioactivity of both is easily detectable, that of…

Bauer Vintage Celadon Pottery, Los Angeles: 210,800 ppm Lead (21%!). Context: 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

August 5, 2018August 11, 2019

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This is a set of Bauer Vintage Celadon Pottery, Made In Los Angeles and purchased at an antique store in Portland, Oregon in 2017. When tested with an XRF instrument each of the pieces tested positive for the elements at the levels shown below. Note: the lead levels below are VERY HIGH, and I would…

Vintage (c. 1938-1960) Ceramic Harlequin by Homer Laughlin Co. Fiesta Plate: 287,600 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe].

August 5, 2018August 20, 2019

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This little yellow plate was purchased at an antique store in Oregon in 2018. While there is not a maker’s mark on the back of the dish, the store owner had researched the plate and came up with this description: Vintage Yellow Ceramic Harlequin by Homer Laughlin Co. Fiesta Plate, c. 1938-1960 When tested with an…

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

July 21, 2018August 12, 2019

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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…

#Leaded: Johnson Brothers Wedgwood Group Willow Earthenware Pasta Bowl

July 21, 2018January 25, 2019

This is a Johnson Bros. (“A Member Of The Wedgwood Group”) Willow Earthenware Pasta Bowl. I have not been able to determine the exact age of the piece based on the back mark. If you have information that could help me with that, please let me know. I would assume that since it does say…

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

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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

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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 La Cartuja De Sevilla Pickman China Soup Cup: 44,800 ppm Lead

July 21, 2018November 4, 2018

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When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage La Cartuja De Sevilla Pickman China soup cup (Made in Spain) was positive for the following elements: Lead (Pb): 44,800 ppm +/- 1,400 Barium (Ba): 462 ppm +/- 78 Non-detect (Negative) for: Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As) To learn more about XRF testing, Click Here….

Beatrix Potter 2007 Wedgwood China Peter Rabbit Baby Cup: 36,000 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

July 8, 2018January 15, 2024

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Beatrix Potter 2007 Wedgwood China Peter Rabbit Baby cup This little Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Wedgwood China baby cup was purchased new in about 2007 and was tested with an XRF instrument (by me) in 2012. This cup belonged to my friend Chelsea. As with most of these Beatrix Potter cups produced by Wedgwood before the…

#LeadedChristmas

June 25, 2018December 14, 2023

Click the word to any corresponding number to see the article with XRF test results for the item pictured below! One • Two • Three • Four • Five • Six • Seven

Royal Norfolk Ceramic Snowman Christmas Mug: 1007 ppm Lead + 539 ppm Cadmium (90 ppm Lead, 40 ppm Cadmium is unsafe)

June 24, 2018March 10, 2024

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This Royal Norfolk “Made in China” snowman mug tested positive for Lead and cadmium at the following levels (note, the year of manufacture is unknown, however, I don’t believe this is very old). Here’s a link to this exact piece on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Qnone7. To see more Royal Norfolk pieces I have tested, click HERE. To…

Functional Ceramic Christmas Snowman Teapot: 30,200 ppm Lead

June 24, 2018December 12, 2023

To see more Christmas items I have tested, click HERE. This little Christmas snowman teapot tested positive for Lead (Pb) at 30,200 +/- 900 ppm. The year of manufacture is unknown. This item was tested in 2018 with an XRF instrument. Full XRF Reading (Toxicants): Lead (Pb): 30,200 +/- 900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect (ND/negative) Arsenic (As): Non-Detect…

Vintage (Made in Japan) ceramic Santa Claus Christmas mug: As high as 5,077 ppm Lead

June 24, 2018January 2, 2024

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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…

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

June 23, 2018September 1, 2019

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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…

Testing Liberty Blue, Johnson Brothers or Homer Laughlin China with A LeadCheck Swab (Video)

June 20, 2018June 20, 2018

6 Comments

Here are some posts related to the 6-minute video (below): Can I test my dishes with a LeadCheck Swab https://tamararubin.com/2017/02/leadcheck-dishware/ Johnson Brothers Posts https://tamararubin.com/category/johnson-bros/ Homer Laughlin Posts https://tamararubin.com/category/homer-laughlin/ Liberty Blue Posts https://tamararubin.com/category/liberty-blue/ Chip In https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/chip-in/ This video was originally filmed as a Facebook Live video (so there may be moments where I am responding to…

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

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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…

Franciscan Desert Rose Earthenware China — c. 1941, Made in USA: 122,200 ppm Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items)

June 14, 2018September 24, 2023

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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…

Franciscan Ware Potteries (c. 1948) Franciscan Ivy Pattern Serving Tray: 304,000 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe]

June 14, 2018September 1, 2019

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This is a Franciscan Potteries vintage “Ivy” pattern serving tray that I got at the Good Will Bins a while back (to add to my “Museum of Lead” collection!) The interesting thing about glazes (especially on pieces that are handmade or hand-painted) is that the levels of lead can vary significantly across the surface of…

Vintage Spring Blossom Green “Crazy Daisy” Pyrex cup: 39,300 ppm Lead + 833 ppm Cadmium (90 ppm Pb is unsafe for kids!)

May 5, 2018January 5, 2024

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Vintage Pyrex Spring Blossom Green “Crazy Daisy” patterned cups 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…

A short story of a small vintage ceramic bowl and a boy from Wisconsin who was poisoned.

April 23, 2018April 26, 2018

15 Comments

I originally shared this in October of 2013, but given how much we have learned about dishware and lead since then, I thought it was an important one to re-share! I have quite a few friends in Wisconsin and have been invited several times to present to groups there (including presentations in Milwaukee, Madison and…

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

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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…