Ilmenau Porcelain Factory

Q I have a coffee service made by the Ilmenau porcelain factory. The set includes a coffeepot, sugar shell, creamer, and five cups, saucers, and cake plates. I’ve never used it because of lead concerns. Are these safe to use?

A Porcelain has been made in Ilmenau, Germany, under various names since 1777. The factory is in business now as Neue Porzellanfabrik Ilmenau G.m.b.H. It was granted a patent for its method of decorating porcelain with metallic glaze before 1897. The formula included minium, also called red lead, a pigment that was form of lead tetroxide. The Food and Drug Administration set limits on the amount of lead in dishes in 1971, then stricter limits were set in 1993. Under the guidelines, dishes may contain minimal amounts of lead and still be considered safe. Dishes made before 1971 may contain more lead than what is now considered safe. Lead can leach out if the glaze is damaged or if acidic foods are cooked, served, or stored in the dish. You can test the amount of lead in your dishes yourself by using a lead-testing kit, available at some hardware stores or online. Cups and hollowware pieces are considered ”lead safe” if the tests show lead leaching is not more than 0.100 parts per million.