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