Lead will be found in almost any collection. Some examples include:
- Archaeology – coffins, plaques, figurines, brooches, coins, nails.
- Architecture – rain water goods, plumbing, stained glass window cames.
- Art – lead supports in plaster casts, lead pigments in painting, lead glazes in ceramics.
- Costume – textile weights.
- Medical – x-ray radiation shielding.
- Natural history – lead paint on taxidermy specimen mounts.
- Numismatics – coins and medals.
- Pharmacy – an additive to medicines.
- Printing – type metal.
- Social history – painted toys, die-cast figures, shot, fishing weights, pewter tableware, lead crystal glassware, lead batteries.
- World cultures – decorative metal work.