Only cast iron made between the late 19th and mid-20th century is considered “vintage.” That's basically anything produced before 1957.
Look out for the first series of Erie and Erie Spider skillets. These two skillets stand out as the most sought-after by collectors. Also, rare sizes such as the Griswold #13 and #20 do not come up for sale often, but these large skillets can sell for a handsome sum when they do.
Like vintage pyrex bowls, cookbooks, and cookie jars, cast iron skillets are also having their moment in the spotlight. Valued by both collectors and culinary enthusiasts for their quality craftsmanship and durability, some of these vintage pieces are fetching high sums (think in the high hundreds to even thousands).
Condition. When considering the value of vintage iron, the condition is key. Mint, like-new condition is ideal and is the most valuable. Rusted pans may be less valuable, but they can still be restored to their former glory and retain some value.
Field sizing is based on vintage cast iron conventions, so our No. 8 size means a 10 ¼" width, edge-to-edge. Dimensions: 10 ¼" diameter.
The numbers correlate to the size of ports on antique wood stoves as cast iron cookware and wood stoves often went hand in hand. The number 10 is traditionally a top diameter 11.5" skillet.
Final Verdict. If you're looking for cast iron that ranked highly across the board, check out the triple-seasoned Lodge Cast Iron Blacklock Skillet. For a budget option, we recommend the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, which performed well and is lightweight, making it incredibly user-friendly.
Lodge Cast Iron is the oldest and longest-running cast iron manufacturer in the United States. Originally called Blacklock, founder Joseph Lodge fired up a long-dormant railroad foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee in 1896.
As a customer and avid vintage cookware enthusiast, I can confirm there's definitely a market for vintage cast-iron skillets and pots. Several reasons underlie the recent surge in their demand and subsequently their selling. First, there's a profound appreciation for the superior quality of vintage cast iron.
Quality cast iron should have an even surface without any pits, bumps, or irregularities. This uniformity ensures even cooking and heat distribution. High-end cast iron is often cast in sand molds, which contributes to the cookware's even surface and heat distribution capabilities.
The difference between a well-seasoned Griswold and a modern Lodge pan is like night and day—Griswold pans release food effortlessly, are lighter to handle, and can hold their seasoning for years.
Grey cast iron is characterised by its graphitic microstructure, which causes fractures of the material to have a grey appearance. It is the most commonly used cast iron and the most widely used cast material based on weight.
Wapak cast iron might be lesser known compared to the Griswold and Wagner brands, but it is just as collectible. The most sought after Wapak cast iron are the pans with the “Indian head" medallion on them, which was produced from 1903-1926. The rarest and most collectible is the #4 skillet--until recently.
The more you use cast iron, the smoother it becomes. Each time you cook with oil, the seasoning on your cast iron improves, making you cast iron darker and smoother. After a few years of regular use, the finish on your cast iron will be very smooth, similar to cast iron you might find at the flea market.
One of the most surprising valuables around your home may be cast-iron cookware. Worth from $15 to $1,500, this is stuff you rarely want to sell at a yard sale. Fortunately, cookware is usually marked on the bottom with the name of the maker and the catalog or size number.
Cast iron pans can leach a sizeable amount of iron into your food, exceeding dietary intake in some cases. Acidic foods will contribute to much more leaching while an old, heavily-seasoned pan will leach much less iron than a newer one.
Griswold Cast iron Is Highly Collectible.
And this makes the ironware fun to collect for collectors and enthusiasts. So when a rare piece or size comes up for sale, it will attract the attention of many buyers and ultimately drive up the price.
Griswold Manufacturing (/ˈɡrɪzwɔːld, -wəld/) was an American manufacturer of cast-iron kitchen products founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, in business from 1865 through 1957. For many years the company had a world-wide reputation for high-quality cast-iron cookware.
I have looked at Field products for a while and I finally decided to take the next step. It is a decision so worth it. Love the skillet and you will too! There are less expensive cast iron products for sure, but a Field cast iron skillet is a once in a lifetime purchase…that is unless you need more Field products!