Preface Harold Henry, of Hamilton, Missouri, passed away on June 8, 2025, at the age of 90. He was a delightful storyteller, a hardworking farmer, and a retired auctioneer of cattle. Harold was also an avid collector of cast-iron cookware. He was my friend. Harold had a deep affection for Lodge cast iron, both for…
Griswold Cookware
Collectors and Collections,
History and Stories
Griswold, Lodge, Wagner, Favorite, Wapak, and More!
Grady Britt, Vintage Lodge Cast Iron Collector
Southerner Grady Britt is a long-time vintage Lodge cast iron collector. While he also has pieces by many other manufacturers – notably Griswold – the focus of his study and collection is vintage and antique Lodge cast iron. Grady and Jean Britt Linda and I had a lovely visit with Grady and Jean Britt, to…
2002 Antique and Vintage Cast Iron Cookware Prices
In December 2023, I visited my friend Harold R. Henry in Hamilton Missouri, who collects cast iron pieces. While looking through his large collection, I found an old auction catalog from 2002. Harold had noted down the prices of the items sold at that auction. I found it fascinating to compare those prices to today’s…
Antique Trader Cover Story: Joseph Zawadowski and his Cast Iron Pups
My little ditty about Joseph Zawadowski and his cache of cast iron pups was the cover story for the February 27, 2019 edition of Antique Trader. I’ve written a bit about Joe’s pups and snuggle pups as well as the infamous “Griswold” “silver” pups, how to identify a reproduction Griswold pup, and current values for…
Ask Mary: Value of cast iron collection – Where to start?
What reference materials to use when trying to determine the value of a cast iron cookware collection.
The O’Neil Home Collection: Kitchen and Dining area
I have had the pleasure of spending some quality time with Marg and Larry O’Neil, both at their stunning residence in Tacoma, WA and at their meticulously curated pole barn private cast iron museum situated on farmland in the outskirts of Tacoma. Every visit to the collection is a journey of discovery, as I continue…
Joe Zawadowski and his Vintage Cast Iron Pups
Joe Zawadowski is a vintage cast iron pup collector. He is also a turtle champion, wood carver, bog hunter, dog judge, and skull seeker. I had wanted to see, learn, and write about Joe’s vintage cast iron pup collection for quite some time. The visit that Linda and I made to Joe and Nancy Zawadowski’s…
Lodge Collectors and Collections
Mary’s presentation on “Lodge Cast Iron Collectors and Collections” at the 2019 Lodge Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.