This problem is common for purchasing Chinese plates for use or
decoration. If paint is fired first then fired second with glaze then
okay for use. If fired together then decorative. If fired painted
and unglazed then decorative. If paint on glaze then decorative.
Normally packaging will indicate decorative only. I came across a
Chinese site for Yixing and the only English for one of the pots
'drink emergency required'. Yixing historically has been exported to
other countries for Western market 'finishing'. So glaze and paint
indicate a second stop.

Jim

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