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Q: I recently purchased my first set of antique china. I know I need to test
it for lead, and I wonder if a home-test kit from the hardware store will do
the job. Is there anything else I should check before considering it safe
to serve food from?
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A:
Most older patterns of china and
pottery that were made by major manufacturers and intended for actual use on the dinner table
are safe.
There are two categories where food service use should generally be avoided
unless tested for lead:
Display Items:
Articles that were never designed or manufactured to be used to eat from may not be safe. Examples include souvenir, commemorative
or special-edition pieces. This applies to newer as well as older patterns.
Primitives: Most primitive or crudely handmade low fired articles (old or new)
should be avoided, as these are much more likely to
create a safety issue.
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If you are curious about the potential lead content of an older pattern of china that was
designed to be used, there are a few indicators that you can look for to determine if a
test might be in order.
Plain white or off white patterns that have no coloration applied to them at all should be
risk free. Overglaze paints and colored transfers are the agents that have sometimes
contained lead, and can merit further investigation. The paint or coloration that is
applied and sealed under the glaze (the thin layer of glass that seals the ceramic body),
is of virtually no risk.
One can usually determine if there is paint or a transfer on top of the glaze by feeling
the decoration and/or examining the sheen of a plate under direct light. If the decoration
is noticeably raised and you can feel it, then it is most likely over the glaze. If the
decoration can not be felt, but some of the colors or parts of the pattern reflect light
differently than the rest of the glazed ceramic body, then there may be some decoration
applied over the glaze. If the decoration is all underglaze, the light reflection is
not distorted resulting in a very smooth lustre.
Older china is more likely than newer china to have some hand-applied overpainting,
which is typically the problematic area. This is paint that is fired on, but is applied
over the glaze. Sometimes this paint can become unstable, and gradually loosen from the
ceramic body. In theory, minuscule amounts of the paint could be ingested over time, and
result in a lead-related health concern.
As stated before, the colors and paints that are applied under the glaze are generally
nothing to worry about. The exception would be if the glaze has been penetrated in some
way. Examples would be fractures, worn glaze or crazing (tiny little crackling
throughout the glaze).
In these cases, minuscule traces of the underglaze decoration might exit through the
surface of the glaze opening.
Lead test kits are dependable and relatively cheap, therefore there is no reason not to test your china (or
anything else for that matter) if it makes you feel better.
Whether one decides to test or not, since the great majority of patterns are safe (or
the risk is very, very low), most individuals can have comfort in knowing that beloved
old patterns of china are not only beautiful to look at, but still practical to use
and enjoy. If a test proves a positive lead content of a significant level, at least
the old pieces can continue to be displayed in a cabinet or on a shelf. After all,
the beauty of old china pieces is frequently half the enjoyment of owning them!
If you feel like you would like to investigate this subject further or would like to
purchase a test kit,
click for links to more information.
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