Everyday stonewear, made in USA?

[KnottedYet]

Ok, I'm a dork. I'm nervous about the Mystery Dishes we use, made in China, and potential lead (and other metal) levels in the glaze. I tried to find out if they were in the stonewear recalls, but haven't had luck.

Other than switching to a glass set of dishes, my best (and first) choice is getting stonewear made in USA or Canada. After seeing how darn near impossible it has been for me to find stonewear at the mall that ISN'T made in China, I almost feel fierce about how I want some made on this continent. Dammit, we can't let our great pottery traditions/factories disappear!

Once upon a time I remember hearing that Pfalzgraff was still made on the east coast. Went to their website (tons of nice cheap everyday stonewear) but I couldn't figure out where it was made! (or they ain't saying)

Anybody know of simple everyday stonewear, 4 place settings for $60 or so, made in the US or Canada?

[Trek420]

I often check

www.madeinusa.org

www.stillmadeinusa.com

www.usstuff.com

http://buyamerican.com

Before shopping or shop from there.

But for stonewear why not find a local potter?

[KnottedYet]

I found things like these guys: http://www.hartstonepottery.com/ but they are just way to expensive for me. Looking for plain everyday stuff.

This is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for http://www.heathceramics.com but I don't have several hundred dollars.

Still Made In USA had the explanation that Pfalzgraff is no longer made in USA. Bummer.

This one is very cool, and has stuff I like, but they are restaurant supply and you have to order by the DOZEN! http://www.hfcoors.com/

And even good ol' Corelle isn't made in USA anymore. (at least they have the guts to say so on their website)

Who knew this would be so difficult?

Maybe I'll take a little trip down to the restaurant supply store near me, and see if they sell any singles of the HF Coors stoneware. (even a six-pack would do! )

[Eden]

How about Corelle wear? It's still made in Corning, NY

*edit* - from the Correlle web site All CORELLE® Vitrelle® glass dinnerware is manufactured in the USA at the same Corning, New York factory where it has been made since the line was launched in 1970.
(the Hearthstone line that is not Corelle is made somewhere else)

and this is from the Pfaltzgraff web site - sounds like it is still made in the USA too.

The Pfaltzgraff family immigrated to the United States in the early 1800's and set up a small potter's wheel and kiln on their modest twenty-one acre homestead in York County, Pennsylvania. The brand has remained in York ever since.

I personally like Japanese earthen wear. You do have to watch as some of it is made in China, but plenty is still made in Japan, which I would guess has much more stringent rules than China. (Uwajimaya usually has a nice selection)

[makbike]

Here is a link to Louisville Stoneware - they make great stuff.

http://www.louisvillestoneware.com/

[Blueberry]

Lots of the Crate and Barrel plain, cheap basic white stuff is made in Europe. Not the US, but at least you don't have the likelihood of mystery metals...

[KnottedYet]

Fiestaware! http://www.homerlaughlin.com/ffd/shop.asp?P=SET&Q=A&T=

I wouldn't have thought of Fiestaware. I assume they took care of the little radioactivity issue... And if I order thru the "outlet" I can get a full set for less than $200. (my who-knows-what made in China was $19.95. But I have chipped and scratched and dunno what's leaching out of it.)

I love the stuff at Uwajimaya, maybe I should go check out some of the made in Japan instead of fixating on finding affordable made in USA.

Pfalzgraff was bought in 2005 and the holding company closed down the US factory. What a huge bummer, eh?

Oooh, that Louisville Stonewear is just gorgeous! (more expensive than I can do right now, but really lovely lovely dishes!)

Thanks for the Crate and Barrel tip. There is one in the mall, I might have to go take a look, especially if the restaurant supply place near me is a bust.

I got my bonus at work, and decided it's time to replace the dishes. That's why I'm on a tear over dishes right now. (spend the $$ on the dishes before I fritter it away on silly things like food and electricity bills )

[Xrayted]

Knot - as far as I know, Pfaltzgraff is made in PA still. I've been to the factory and had a friend who worked there. It's actually a big deal in those parts that they haven't gone overseas. It was always the #1 seller in that region cuz it's local. Bummer that they closed it. I never knew and I lived only 25 minutes away.

I agree that it is very hard to find nice dinnerware at reasonable prices that are still made in USA.
I always liked Bujno potters. Our kitty bowls are made by them. They do nice dinnerware as well as other things but are too expensive if you want an entire set. They make them right there at the shop, one at a time.

I may have to check out those sites that Trek put up. We are looking for a nice dinnerware set ourselves.

[smilingcat]

Hi knotted,

Most of the stuff imported from China are not stone ware. They are earthenware. Best "wetting agent" for earthenware is lead. It gives that glossy shiny quality to the glaze.

The difference between earthenware and stoneware is the temperature it is fired. Earthenware fires to cone 010 to 04 while stoneware fires to cone 9-12. Some potters will fire to 14. Stoneware is fully vitrious meaning that the clay is fully fused.

The stoneware temperature require different glaze chemistry than earthenware glaze and can not use lead. It literally gets burnt off. "wetting agent" at stoneware temperature is sodium, patassium and calcium.

For food use, find pottery with glossy finish on the inside, matt finish, crackled finish on the outside is fine. Do not use crystalline glaze finish.

If you are not sure about lead content, you can find a simple lead test kit. http://www.leadinspector.com/?gclid=...FRscawodXCviWA

If you want hand made pottery in US, going price for a mug is around $15-$25. Bowls can be had for $10-$80 depending on the size and quality.

here is a link to oregon potters association. Probably the best organized and best run pottery association. http://www.oregonpotters.org/
they should have links to other pottery related sites.

You may want to check Ceramics Monthly magazine. They showcase lot of potters here in US. Go to your local library and see if they have back issues to look through.

I used to do lot of throwing. Still have about half a ton of porcelain clay and hundres of pounds of glaze supply.

smilingcat

[KnottedYet]

The info I got about Pfalzgraff is from the Made In USA site that Trek put up. Nifty site, very interesting. I did find on the Pfalz site where they mentioned being bought in 2005, but nothing about the factory. I suppose I could call them and ask.

I remember when I was a kid it seems like ALL my friends' families had the Colonial pattern Pfalzgraff dishes! (brown and gray and cream were very popular)

There is a pottery co-op near my mom's, and I have thought about commisioning my favorite potter there (she made your vase, Trek; and my beautiful pale blue serving bowl) to make me a set of dishes. That could get expensive, but that'd be even cooler than getting some made in a factory.

Smilingcat - if I tell the potter I want stoneware, not earthenware, will I get the glaze you describe? The clay she uses is white, not red. Is that stoneware? What is a crystalline finish?

[salsabike]

Knott, we got Heath Ceramics when we got married in '91. This past year, we went looking for some replacements for stuff we'd broken. We found a bunch of Heath seconds on Ebay and stocked up. It was great! Take a look there and see if you can find what you want.

[Xrayted]

Knot, you're going to think I'm an idiot, but when I moved here, I left the wheel and kiln behind. I knew they would just go unused because of being in an apartment instead of a house. Also, they were "ours" and I'm not an azz in that way. I miss throwing though.

[smilingcat]

Hi X,

do you have photos of your work? Like to see them. I'm always interested ins seeing others' work.

smilingcat

[Eden]

The info I got about Pfalzgraff is from the Made In USA site that Trek put up. Nifty site, very interesting. I did find on the Pfalz site where they mentioned being bought in 2005, but nothing about the factory. I suppose I could call them and ask.

its pretty misleading if you ask me... I dug around a bit more and finally in the FAQ under - are my dishes safe.... they talk about sourcing from Asia, so I'd say indeed they have shut the PA factory down, or at very least are not getting all of their product from it anymore. They should probably mention that in their little feel good "been in York county every since" bit.....

It does sound that Corelle as long as you stick to the actual Corelle glass wear is still made in the Corning factory.

[KnottedYet]

I'm on the verge of ordering $175 of Fiestaware. (8 place settings, and while $50 more expensive than I initially intended, not far off.)

One of the cool things I'm liking is that I can mix and match colors and get a gazillion other pieces (like chili bows and chowder bowls and serving bowls and salt-n-pepper shakers...)