Griswold Cookware

Collectors and collections, History and Stories

Griswold, Lodge, Wagner, Favorite, Wapak, and More!

Griswold Cookware

Collectors and Collections,
History and Stories

Griswold, Lodge, Wagner, Favorite, Wapak, and More!

Home » Explore our Website » The Word from Marg on Griswold Cast Iron Quaker Ware

The Word from Marg on Griswold Cast Iron Quaker Ware

I posted a series of photos of old advertisements for Griswold Quaker Ware. Old ads such as those are very helpful when trying to determine what pieces were part of a particular line of pans.

Larry and Marg O’Neil have the full collection of Griswold Quaker Ware, and I had the opportunity to photograph the collection to accompany an article that Marg wrote for the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association about their collection. Marg has kindly allowed me to reprint the article below.

Reading Marg’s article and seeing the photos of their beautiful collection brings the pictures in the old advertisements to life.

On the Hunt for Griswold Quaker Ware

By Marg O’Neil.

Photos by Mary Theisen.

[Cast iron collector] Lou Wright 1 convinced us to join the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association (“G&CICA”) many years ago. We went to a national convention shortly after we joined, where we were lucky enough to buy several pieces of Griswold Quaker Ware. Ever since we have been on a mission to collect all of the pieces of Griswold’s Quaker Ware. 

Griswold made Quaker Ware from 1949 to 1957. Quaker Ware pieces are black iron with a white porcelain-coated interior. The line is high-quality; the iron was tumble-finished before the porcelain was applied. Griswold ads to dealers proclaimed: “Smartly-styled lowest priced porcelain lined ironware – that’s the new Griswold Quaker Ware.”

griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement

The Quaker Ware round and square skillets have grooved handles, while the casseroles have scalloped handles. Griswold trademarks are not consistent throughout the line. Some pieces have the small Griswold trademark, others the large block trademark and our no. 107 skillet griddle has the italicized trademark. The skillet griddle was the last piece of Quaker Ware made by Griswold. 

Griswold Quaker Ware Cast Iron Skillet Griddle griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement
Griswold Quaker Ware Cast Iron Skillet Griddle
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement
Griswold Quaker Ware casserole with candle warmer.

We bought the wrought iron candle warmer in the above photo at a G&CICA convention auction a few years ago. I had seen a picture of the wrought iron candle warmer in a Griswold catalog and advertisement for Quaker Ware. The candle warmer was sold along with a red and cream casserole at the auction. We sold the casserole but kept the candle warmer for our Quaker Ware round casserole with cover. The Griswold Quaker Ware casserole was sold both with and without the candle warmer. This is the only candle warmer we have ever seen.
 

griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement square
Full set of Quaker Ware square skillets: one egg size, nos. 3, 6, and 8. 
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement set
Full set of Quaker Ware round skillets: 0, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. 
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement oval casserole
L to R clockwise: oval casserole with cover, oval fish baking dish (wrought iron tray not pictured), round casserole with cover (wrought iron candle warmer not pictured) shirred egg dish resting inside Au Gratin baking dish (wrought iron tray not pictured).
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement glass lid cover
Quaker Ware Dutch oven with glass cover. 
Griswold Quaker Ware saucepan on display in the O'Neil kitchen. 84 antique vintage old pan
Quaker Ware saucepan on display in Marg and Larry’s kitchen.
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement colonial breakfast
Quaker Ware Colonial breakfast skillet. Billed as “compartmentalized to prepare three dishes at once.”
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement bread stick corn
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement
Quaker Ware “Corncake” or “Crispy Corn Stick” pan.
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement oval roaster
Quaker Ware 4-quart oval roaster.
griswold quaker ware antique vintage cast iron cookware pan enamel porcelain dutch oven casserole stand cover breakfast skillet frying ad advertisement
Quaker Ware vegetable pan with cover.

Lovely collection, Marg – thanks for sharing it with us!

(originally posted April 6, 2019).

  1. Mr. Wright is now deceased.

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