Why do they put lead in plates?

Question

A child has become sick with lead poisoning from plates her parents bought. Since lead is so toxic what value does lead add to the production of plates? How is the lead and ceramic bound together?

Answer 1

Lead oxide was used (I am not sure if it still is) to make glazes on decorative plates, because it is a good flux, or high temperature solvent, for metal oxide pigments. But you are not meant to eat off these plates.