I have been in the pottery business for the last 30 + years and this is one of those "old wives tales" that pop up now and then.


Let me see if I can straighten this out for everyone. Ceramics - earthenware, stoneware & porcelian are completely SAFE. We have strick regulations that we MUST meet if we sell/make anything in the ceramic world. All clays and glazes, if used properly are completely safe. The dinnerware you eat off of every night....safe. The coffee/tea you drink in the am, perfectly safe.

Now, the ceramic you must be aware of is some of the stuff made in China and Mexico. They sometimes do not fire the clay to the correct tempature, and the glazes they use are known to have some lead in them, BUT......it would take years, and years of eating & drinking off of these before anything would happen to you.

I suggest strongly if you are going to buy any type of ceramics at a dollar store or from foriegn countries, to go and buy a lead kit - yes they are out there. It is a little paper stick that you put on the said piece with water (I believe) and if it turns a specific color it either does or does not have lead. Very simple.

Buy your ceramics from stores & people you trust (sorry, I don't trust dollar store ceramics at all!) Yes, the local potters at craft fairs are safe - we have to be or we would all be out of business.

If anyone has any more questions about ceramics, please feel free to PM me, I will be happy to help.

Bunny