The Word from Marg on Griswold Cast Iron Quaker Ware
I posted a series of photos of old advertisements for Griswold Quaker Ware. Old advertisements like these are very helpful in determining which pieces belonged to a particular line and when they were in production.
Larry and Marg O’Neil have a wonderful collection of Griswold Quaker Ware, and I had the opportunity to photograph it to accompany an article about Quaker Ware that Marg wrote for the Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association. Marg has kindly allowed me to reprint her article below.
Reading Marg’s article, listening to her talk about the pieces, and seeing the pieces themselves brings the pictures in those old advertisements to life.
As Larry pointed out in the video I took of Marg on September 14, 2026, you “never know” whether you have found every piece in a particular line. Quaker Ware is a perfect example. Larry and Marg had found all of the pieces listed in a Griswold catalog for the line and could reasonably have thought their collection was complete. Then they found four additional Quaker Ware pieces that were not listed in that catalog.
That’s part of what makes the hunt for old cast iron cookware so much fun! You never know if you’re really “done” finding a complete line.
On the Hunt for Griswold Quaker Ware
By Marg O’Neil
All photos are from the O’Neil collection. Photos by Mary.
[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.”
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 that Griswold made.
We bought the wrought iron candle warmer shown in the photo above at a G&CICA convention auction some years ago. We had seen a picture of the candle warmer in a Griswold catalog and in an advertisement for Quaker Ware.
The warmer was sold at the auction along with a red and cream casserole. We sold that casserole but kept the warmer for our Quaker Ware round casserole with cover. Griswold sold the Quaker Ware casserole both with and without the candle warmer.
This is the only candle warmer we have ever seen.
Lovely collection, Marg. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Note: The first version of this article was posted in 2019.