Pottery

Pottery Barn Studio dish by Barbara Eigen: 230 ppm Lead on the food surface. 90 ppm (& up) is considered too much in items intended for use by kids.

July 14, 2021April 30, 2024

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 method used by the Consumer…

Recently Purchased (June 2021) Anfora Pottery Barn Puebla Pattern Dish (Made in Mexico): 15,500 ppm Lead on the food surface

June 13, 2021February 28, 2024

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2021 | Pottery | Pottery Barn | Pottery Barn Decor | Pottery Barn Dishes

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,…

Unmarked white glazed ceramic canister with Lid: 82 ppm Lead. Safe by all standards.

January 7, 2020

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When tested with an XRF instrument the ceramic canister (with matching ceramic lid) pictured here had the following readings: Exterior glazed surface – test #1 Lead (Pb): 82 +/- 16 ppm Zinc (Zn): 64 +/- 21 ppm Copper (Cu): 219 +/- 44 ppm Iron (Fe): 1,786 +/- 208 ppm Bismuth (Bi): 90 +/- 16 ppm…

Glazed Ceramic Bowl, Made In Mexico: 11,300 ppm Lead (Context: 90 ppm is illegal in new children’s items).

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019

I tested this glazed ceramic (made in Mexico) bowl with an XRF instrument, and it had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 11,300 ppm For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, glaze, or…

Glazed Ceramic Mug from Cuernavaca, Mexico: 86,600 ppm Lead (Context: 90 ppm is illegal in children’s items).

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019

I tested this glazed ceramic (made in Cuernavaca Mexico) mug with an XRF instrument, and it had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 86,600 ppm This amount of Lead is specially dangerous in an item like a ceramic coffee mug given mugs are often used on a daily basis (by the same person) for acidic…

Made In Mexico Vintage / Antique Glazed Ceramic Mug: 79,100 ppm Lead (Context: 90 ppm is illegal in children’s items).

February 9, 2019February 9, 2019

I tested this vintage / antique glazed ceramic (made in Mexico) mug with an XRF instrument, and it had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 79,100 ppm This amount of Lead is specially dangerous in an item like a ceramic coffee mug given mugs are often used on a daily basis (by the same person) for…

Made In Mexico Vintage / Antique Glazed Ceramic Mug: 122,200 ppm Lead (Context: 90 ppm is illegal in new items for children).

February 9, 2019February 9, 2019

I tested this vintage / antique glazed ceramic (made in Mexico) mug with an XRF instrument, and it had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 122,200 ppm This amount of Lead is specially dangerous in an item like a ceramic coffee mug given mugs are often used on a daily basis (by the same person) for…

Made In Mexico Blue & White Ceramic Shallow Soup Bowl: 50,500 ppm Lead (Context: 90 ppm is illegal in new items for children).

February 9, 2019February 9, 2019

I tested this blue and white glazed made in Mexico shallow ceramic soup bowl with an XRF instrument, and it had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 50,500 ppm For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher…

Made In Mexico Blue Glazed Ceramic Bowl: 39,596 ppm Lead, 25,137 ppm Arsenic, & more than 100,000 ppm Mercury.

February 9, 2019

I tested this blue glazed made in Mexico ceramic bowl with an XRF instrument, and it had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 39,596 ppm Arsenic (As): 25,137 ppm Mercury (Hg): 100,000 ppm For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything…

Made In Mexico Green & White Glazed Ceramic Plate: 554,400 ppm Lead. [Context; 90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids’ toys.]

February 9, 2019

I tested this green and white glazed made in “Mexico” ceramic plate with an XRF instrument, and it had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 554,400 ppm 554,400 ppm Lead is the same as 55.4% Lead in the glaze. For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for…

Made In Mexico Blue And White Glazed Ceramic Plate: 95,000 ppm Lead. [For context; 90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids’ toys.]

February 9, 2019February 9, 2019

When I was visiting New Orleans in May of 2014, I tested this blue and white glazed “Made in Mexico” ceramic plate with an XRF instrument, and it had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 95,000 ppm 95,000 ppm Lead is the same as 9.5% Lead in the glaze. For context, the amount of Lead that…

Plain White Ceramic Pottery Barn PB Classic Mug: 2,528 ppm Lead on the Logo. 90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items.

November 13, 2018September 27, 2019

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Plain White Ceramic Pottery Barn Mug. The logo on the bottom of this Pottery Barn PB Classic ceramic mug is positive for a fairly high level of lead. If you want a guideline on determining if your mug’s logo is leaded I have found the following rule to consistently be true (probably about 99% of…

Pottery Barn Portugese Dish: 363 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items [but dishes aren’t used by kids, right?]

November 19, 2017September 27, 2019

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White Pottery Barn Plate; hand crafted in Portugal. When tested with an XRF instrument this white glazed ceramic plate came in at levels as high as 363 ppm Lead. Dishes are not considered “items intended for use by children”… For context, the amount of Lead that is considered illegal (and unsafe) in anything manufactured today…

Pottery Barn Dishes, “Spiral” Pattern

November 19, 2017

Pottery Barn Spiral Pattern Dishes. Tested with an XRF. 69 to 142 ppm lead. This is considered within safe-range by most standards. Tested c. 2014. Newer dishes. To see the #LeadFree dishes I use in my home, click here. For more #SaferChoices for your family, click here. To make a contribution in support of my…

Pottery Barn Green “Swirl” Ceramic Bowl: 5,215 ppm Lead. 90 is unsafe for kids’ items.

November 19, 2017October 21, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this Pottery Barn Brand Swirl pattern bowl (different than “Spiral” which we also have pics of!) tested positive for 5,215 ppm Lead. This bowl was tested and photographed in 2014 and is a fairly recently made product, although I don’t know the exact year of manufacture. [if you have more…

Ceramic Cow Creamer; Circa 2010

April 28, 2017April 28, 2017

Ceramic cream cow: 85 ppm lead (purchased at Modcloth). #XRFTesting This item is considered lead-safe by all standards. The current amount of lead that is considered toxic in an item intended for children is anything over 90 ppm lead. Items intended for adults (including dishware) are generally unregulated for total lead content. For More Safer Choices For…

Collectable Starbucks Coffee White Ceramic Mug

2008 White Ceramic Starbucks Coffee Holiday Mug: 11,200 ppm Lead

February 2, 2017January 2, 2019

2008 White Ceramic Starbucks Coffee Holiday Mug: Tested positive for lead with levels as high as 11,200 ppm when tested with an XRF instrument. An item like this will not likely test positive with a LeadCheck swab. You can read more about that here. For context: the amount of lead that is considered toxic in the substrate…

Blue Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 434,800 parts per million Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

January 15, 2017August 12, 2019

Blue plate, vintage Bauer, Los Angeles: 434,800 parts per million lead. Even though the Lead level on this plate (when tested with an XRF instrument) was incredibly high, this particular plate tested negative with tested with a Lead Check swab* (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – and do not always…

Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Yellow Glazed Ceramic Plate: 524,400 ppm Lead in the glaze. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

January 15, 2017August 12, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this yellow vintage Bauer, Los Angeles dinner plate was positive for 524,400 parts per million lead. That’s more than 52% Lead in the glaze! This dish tested negative with Lead Check swab (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – not pottery), but why take the…

#LeadedKitchen: Vintage Ceramic Mixing Bowls

January 14, 2017

Vintage – unmarked mixing bowls – 9180 ppm lead – cracked & crazing. Not regulated. 90 ppm is considered toxic in a child’s toy. Tested with an XRF —- #XRFTesting #LeadedDishes • #LeadSafeDishes For LEAD FREE mixing bowl choices, click HERE. For more safer choices in kitchenware options, click here. Note: I am not saying…

Ikea Child’s Teacup in Blue: Non-Detect (Negative) for Lead

January 4, 2017May 17, 2024

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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, LLC…