Is it poison for useing a clay pen holder as a mug?

Question

My 4 year old child made a pen holder in her clay class for her daddy. Daddy really likes this gift but instead of useing it for holding pens, he use it as a mug to drink coffee or tea all the time.
Inside of the pen holder had glazed but not outside and it had fired in a kiln. As this is a work done by a 4 year child, It is not so completed with the glazing.
I am worry about for pulling the hot boiling water in that thing, Is it safe to drink?

Answer 1

It depends on the clay and on the glaze. If either contain harmful materials, such as lead, then it would not be suitable for drinking out of. I'd imagine, though, that if your 4 year old made it, the school would not expose your kid to harmful materials.

If you are really concerned, contact the school and speak with your child's art teacher. He/She can tell you if it is ok to use for food/drink.

Answer 2

No it's not safe. Some glazes have lead in them, especially the reds and the low fire clay glazes. Now, one would hope the glazes a 4 year old has access to don't have toxic materials in them, but you never know. If the outside of the vessel isn't glazed, it will be porous even if it's fired. It'll pick up and store crud, so I wouldn't use it as a drink cup. Think of it as a terra cotta flower pot--would you want to eat or drink out of one of those long term?

Answer 3

there's special glazes for things supposed to be used for food. If they were making pen holders then the teacher wouldn't have used the more expensive food-safe glaze because it was unnecessary. I also doubt that a 4 year old would have completely covered the thing with glaze anyways. Don't drink out of it.

Answer 4

If there's a glaze on the inside it's more than likely safe.

Answer 5

A right handed mug

Answer 6

I'd tell dad to use it as a pen holder only -- better safe than sorry!

Answer 7

If it works, and doesn't crack and break apart, it should be fine! Only, it may be difficult to wash and dry efficiently, and more delicate in handling in the kitchen sink etc... Using it as a coffee cup will shorten its existence as it is.

Answer 8

if it is completely selaed, then you can probably drink out of it safely. but if its just the straight clay, then over time the liquid would probably soften the clay and god only knows what that clay is made from. i wouldnt drink from it.

Answer 9

Hell no you don't know what kind of stuff that 4 year old put into the clay!

Answer 10

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee