POTTERY MADE WITH LEADLESS GLAZE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—Probably many of your readers are aware of the lament- able and widespread effect on the health of the workers of the lead which has been hitherto used for the purpose of glazing china and earthenware. It is true that some part of the mis- chief has been due to the lethargy of the workers themselves in the use of precautions and remedies. But this makes no real difference to the duty of the public. It is our duty to do what we can to secure that the conveniences and luxuries of life which we enjoy shall not be produced at an unnecessary risk to the health of those who make them. Some of us have, therefore, been anxious to encourage the production of an innocuous and leadless glaze. There is now an exhibition at Messrs. Mortlock's, in Oxford Street, of china and earthen- ware glazed without the use of lead. To get such pottery, the cheapest as well as the more expensive, put upon the market, in small as well as large quantities, is now simply a question of demand. As to the quality of the pottery, the examination of that being exhibited by Messrs. Mortlock at the present moment will, I think, satisfy every one. May I, then, make an urgent appeal to people of Christian and brotherly feeling to ask for pottery made with leadless glaze, and to go as far as they can in insisting on getting it ? It is not more than the truth to say that if the purchasing public show an interest in this matter leadless glaze will be generally used and a real and serious cause of disease, especially among women, in the districts where pottery is made will be obviated. Some Government offices, I may add, and other public bodies have already made it their rule, in placing their large contracts for pottery, to require the use of the leadless glaze. It remains for the ordinary consumers to show by their demand that pottery glazed in this way must be put upon the ordinary retail market.—I am, Sir, &c., CHARLES Gonz. 4 Little Cloisters, Westminster.
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