In fact I always heard it was the glaze itself that has the lead in it.


"Michael Plant" > wrote in message
...
> Space 9/23/04
>
>
> > I'm thinking of fired glazed "Yixing clay" which too me would be an
> > anomaly. There is no reason to glaze Yixing in any application. The
> > only source of lead in pottery is Chinese paint. That's a known
> > problem which needs glazing. In Chinatown I see Yixing sets of pot,
> > cup, tray with no glazing. I think where there is glaze there is
> > paint and a fake. Possibly in a commercial application such as a
> > restaurant you might find glazed Yixing but I'd still think a fake. I
> > could take any greenware, apply purple Chinese paint, fire and glaze
> > for a 'glazed' Yixing look. The glaze is important not for health
> > reason but to prevent scratching revealing nonYixing substrate. You
> > can usually see signs of painting at bases of cups,pots,bowls,trays.
>
>
> Taking off from Jim's thoughts about lead, it is important to note:
>
> If a component of a pot, be it clay or glaze or oxides painted under or
over
> the glaze, contains lead which is not fritted (stablized) then the person
> who drinks from or eats from that pot is in danger of exposure to the
lead.
> Glaze will not protect. There are reasons which are technical. Alaric will
> explain if need be.
>
> Michael
>