All Hull brand items I have tested have been positive for very high levels of lead. I would never drink out of these (especially not coffee!) and do consider this brand of pottery to be a potential significant exposure source (and health risk) if used as intended for food use purposes.

Is it safe to use old pottery?

If ceramics are baked for long enough at hot enough temperatures, they may still be safe, but if not, the lead can leach into food and cause lead poisoning. Acidic food or drink is especially likely to cause lead to leach out of ceramics, unfortunately for coffee drinkers with favorite earthenware mugs.

What is the difference between terracotta and clay pots?

The difference between clay and terra-cotta is that clay is the raw material, while terra-cotta is clay that is already modeled and fired. Typically, terra-cotta objects may be made of any types of organic clay, but earthenware clay has the brown-orange color that is also known as terra-cotta.

What is the white stuff on terracotta pots?

Turns out, the clay material that these pots are made from is porous and actually breathes. It allows the natural salts and minerals from our water, to seep through to the outside causing a white powdery build up on the outsides of the pot. This residue is not harmful and it can easily be removed.