Posted 3 years ago
Cddkc
(6 items)
I don’t know anything about pottery and would appreciate any information anyone could give on these little cups. They appear to be made by hand. They each weigh about 3.5 ozs or 100 grams, they have no stamp or obvious markings that i see anywhere on them. I’d like to know if they are decorative or usable. Are they special in some way or someone’s long forgotten it pottery class project they no longer wanted . Are they safe to drink from or only to look at? The bottoms are neither flat or smooth and may not even be stable if full with a hot beverage. so if safe to use Not very practical .
The cups are Mexican souvenirs, probably dating to the mid-20th century.
They are handmade, but should be considered decorative only. They are low-fired, and not water-proof, so not suitable for actual use. Since they are Mexican, and low-fired, it is likely that the paint or glaze used in the decoration contains lead, another reason not to drink from them.
Lead used to be a common ingredient in some cultures, since it melts at a very low temperature, and is widely available and relatively inexpensive. Most countries, like the U.S. and others, no longer use it, but you still have to be concerned about lead in some imported pottery from developing countries, or in older pieces.