Re: Health Question
I can't specifically address any health/toxicity issues regarding lead glazes from a technical standpoint though my hunch is along the lines of what David contributed. Nevertheless, a discovery at an archaeological dig on my family's pioneer homestead (1841) in Michigan might shed light on long term effects (or lack thereof). We had been wondering for some time why we would find sherds of 1850s blue transferware ("Sydenham" by Clementson) along with 1930s material. As it turns out, after talking with a great uncle, the family had been using the set (or at least parts of it) even when he was a kid into the 1930s. Since it appears that they had originally purchased the pattern in brown during the log cabin occupation (pre 1855) it now seems likely that they had been using at least some parts of the set for potentially 80+ years. Initial research suggests that manufacturing of the "Sydenham" pattern ended right around 1865. As far as I know, no detrimental health effects have been known in the family in regards to lead. A tureen with the Davenport Bros importer's mark was found in the china cabinet a couple of years ago. My guess is that the use of transferware sets over several decades was actually fairly common. If anyone has information on use longevity of transferwares, I would be very interested in it. I know that we use a set of dishes owned by wife's grandmother from the 1940s for special occasions. There not considered old at all, but still in use in the family for 70+ years. I've heard of much more extreme accounts where even material from the 1790s had been in use until very recently. Just off the top of my head, I seem to recall a 19th century account regarding the dangers of using lead in glazes - the concern was focused not on the finished product used by consumers but on the workers making the glazes who were inhaling lead oxide dust day after day. Given the widepsread use of lead glazed Staffordshire in the 19th century, it would seem to me that if there was a problem with lead exposure from using dishes several times a day, the problem would have manifested itself in a major way within the population. Just a thought. Tim
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