If they are older than say 1980, chances are that yes, they contain lead. It you go to your local building supply or paint store, you can purchase a lead test kit, around $15. Follow the directions, they are really simple, and swab the piece you are concerned about. If the swab turns color, then there is lead present. If that happens, I would just use the piece for decoration, and NOT use it.

Arkansas, I have wondered this myself in connection with the dishes my grandmother-in-law got for me decades ago. I'm glad you asked this question.

I know in Canada, lead was outlawed in all consumer products in 1978. However, that does not mean that products produced in other countries are lead free, and products do get through from other countries. Remember the lead in the plastic blinds/kids toys panic in around1998 or so. I am not sure when the laws changed in the US banning lead, but I believe it was around the same time.

If your dishes/teapot test positive, and you want to keep them because of the beauty or memories, put stickers on the bottom saying Not For Food Use, Contains Lead, to protect those who may inherit the pieces.

If they are not that important to you, then box them up and take them to the hazardous goods collection site in your area. Lead poisoning is not something you want to deal with.

OTOH, it is a wonder any of us born prior to 1980 have lived as long as we have. Lead and asbestos in our homes and schools, we got to handle mercury in science class, no one wore a bike helmet, or seat belts, the list goes on and on.

"it is a wonder any of us born prior to 1980 have lived as long as we have. Lead and asbestos in our homes and schools..."

... caused thousands of people to die of asbestosis and children to suffer developmental problems from lead poisoning. These aren't theoretical risks, persons with higher than normal exposures (easy enough for some to experience now as then. often when working with this stuff or having these hazards in the home) can suffer severe medical consequences.

Lead is a real risk with ceramics, both old and new. Especially with tea pots, because the hot water temps would tend to foster more leaching. Testing is a good idea, avoidance of them (or use of a cast iron one) is even better.

Don't overlook your ceramic mug too, imported products over the years are consistently found containing dangerous levels of prohibited substances. The percentage of incoming items tested is low, so since they find problems with the small samples that are tested, you can be sure there are more than enough contaminated ones that come through undetected and wind up on store shelves.

Interesting. I think it would be a great idea if the local hazardous goods collection sites would offer a free, or low cost, test for these items.

I think I will look into that and see if it could be done.

Sue

Lead is one of the reasons to never use vintage red pyrex bowls in the microwave, actually I wouldn't use any vintage pyrex in the microwave. If you have old clear glass Pyrex and notice a yellow tinge in the glass your Pyrex was made with arsenic.

Snidley you are right, they used to let us play with mercury in school. We would roll the balls of it down the hall or pass it hand to hand.

Several years ago, I put a sweet potato vine cutting into a pottery vase from Mexico that evidently had lead in the glaze.

The vase was marked "Decorative Use Only" or "Not for Food" or some such, but heck, this was a sweet potato vine.

I had rooted those things in water before, & they're tremendously robust;
they thrive & grow roots & you can transplant them within about a week or 10 days.

This cutting never grew, never made roots, turned a funny color, shrivelled, & died.

.

It would probably be wise to just use these for decorative purposes, I'm thinking after hearing all this. They are old, I'm really not sure when they were popular but probably in the 50s? Maybe even earlier. My first piece belonged to my Grandmother and I inherited it then I began collecting pieces through the years. I have a LOT of it. I could get a lead testing kit but then it may have something even worse than lead in it?