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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;SamS, post: 823146, member: 11518&quot;]Hi everyone!</p><p><br /></p><p>New guy here, my name is Sam <img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/cool.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":cool:" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>My interest in antiques lies in antique wet shaving. I have a few straight razors from the 1800s as well as several safety razors from the late 1800s - early 1900s (I use all of them). I also have a few shaving soap jars from the same time period, which is the reason why I started this thread.</p><p><br /></p><p>I did some research on contaminants found in antique porcelain and lead kept coming up. Unfortunately, I couldn&#039;t come up with a clear answer as to whether or not it is something I should be worried about, seeing as I want to use these to store my shaving soap. </p><p><br /></p><p>I went ahead and bought a few lead test swabs to see if I could put my mind at ease. The swabs are activated by an orange solution which turns red/pink upon the presence of lead.</p><p><br /></p><p>The first is my Roger &amp; Gallet. This was made in the 1890s, the company is still in business, and the bottom of the jar is stamped RG and Sarreguemines, which is a province in France known for it&#039;s pottery. </p><p><br /></p><p>[GALLERY=media, 4841]Roger &amp; Gallet - 1890s by SamS posted Jul 25, 2019 at 9:33 PM[/GALLERY]</p><p><br /></p><p>I swabbed the lid and the inside of the jar and neither the swab or solution residue turned red/pink</p><p><br /></p><p>I then moved on to my Vinolia jar. This company was formed in the late 1800s and was eventually bought by Unilever. Vinolia was the soap used in all of the first class cabins on the Titanic (you can still get their Titanic soap). The logo matches the Titanic advertising so the jar can be at least dated around 1912, but there is no stamping anywhere on the jar. </p><p><br /></p><p>[GALLERY=media, 4842]Vinolia Shaving Soap by SamS posted Jul 25, 2019 at 9:34 PM[/GALLERY]</p><p><br /></p><p>As with the Roger &amp; Gallet, no red/pink on the swab or residue.</p><p><br /></p><p>The last jar I have is the oldest being from the 1870s by S. Maw, Son, &amp; Son&#039;s - London. A lot of history to this company so I won&#039;t bore you with the details.</p><p><br /></p><p>[GALLERY=media, 4843]S. Max, Son &amp; Sons - London by SamS posted Jul 25, 2019 at 9:35 PM[/GALLERY]</p><p><br /></p><p>I swabbed the lid and all was well but then I swabbed the inside of the jar and while the swab didn&#039;t turn pink, the solution residue left on the jar eventually dried and turned pink, which indicates lead <img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/frown.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":(" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>[GALLERY=media, 4844]Lead? by SamS posted Jul 25, 2019 at 9:35 PM[/GALLERY]</p><p><br /></p><p>I was bummed as I love this jar and it&#039;s my largest.</p><p><br /></p><p>The shaving soap I want to store in these has the consistency of thick, dry paste. It will not come in contact with water when in the jar, and the soap, once lathered on my face, will only be on my skin for no more than 10 minutes. I shave a few times a week, however, so the soap will probably be in these jars for many months.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, here is why I started this thread:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>-Should I be at all worried about storing shaving soap in these jars, irrespective of what the test swabs indicated? </b></p><p><b>-Are there other contaminants (heavy metals or otherwise) that I should be concerned about?</b></p><p><b>-Is the last jar a hopeless case?</b></p><p><b>-Could there still be lead in any of these jars that the swabs couldn&#039;t pick up?</b></p><p><br /></p><p>I thank you ahead of time for your expert advice on this matter. If any of my historical references are wrong, please feel free to correct me![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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