Just after posting Larry O’Neil’s slideshow about fakes and repros, I came across an interesting item up for online auction on July 26, 2025: a vintage cast-iron match keeper or holder marked “GRISWOLD” on the back.
It’s Marked Griswold – is it Griswold?
The auction house describes it as:
Stamped Griswold match keep made of cast iron. Features an ornate design with cherubs and decorative patterns. Includes a perforated backplate for wall mounting. Suitable for holding matches or similar small items.
The description is accurate – it is a match keeper or container stamped “GRISWOLD.” I imagine, however, that some unsuspecting bidder will presume that because it is marked “GRISWOLD,” it must have been made by the Griswold Manufacturing Company in Erie, Pennsylvania.
It’s not Griswold!
Having just reviewed Larry’s slideshow, however, we know that the Griswold Manufacturing Company did not make this match holder. The match holder is one of the products that Larry identified as not having been made by Griswold.
Even if Larry had not included it in the slideshow as an item not made by Griswold, we would be able to deduce that for ourselves. How? Well, two things immediately jump out: (1) The casting is not as fine as that of authentic Griswold-made products, and (2) the match keeper does not carry a Griswold pattern number. If it doesn’t have a pattern number, be very wary of identifying something as a Griswold-made product.
Don’t be fooled. This one was not made by the Griswold Manufacturing Company in Erie, Pennsylvania!
