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Griswold gets much of the attention in vintage cast iron. Pick up this Favorite Piqua Ware #7A, though, and you may find yourself asking why Favorite isn’t mentioned in the same breath more often. Its superior if you ask me...
At 9.5 inches wide, it weighs just 3.2 pounds. The sidewalls are approximately the thickness of a U.S. nickel, and the casting feels remarkably fine and light in the hand. Inside is a silky smooth cooking surface; underneath is a base that sits dead flat on my marble surface with no spin.
This skillet was made by the Favorite Stove & Range Company of Piqua, Ohio, during the early 20th century, most likely circa 1916–1935. Favorite took its hollow ware seriously. In a period company catalog, the foundry described its fine molding sand, careful inspection, and dedicated machines that ground and polished the cooking interiors.
Pick up this pan and you can appreciate what that work achieved: thin, even walls and a smooth surface made for cooking, not just for display.
It is a wonderful size for everyday use: eggs and bacon in the morning, a steak or skillet supper at night, or cornbread brought straight to the table. Its relatively light weight makes it especially pleasant to handle for a vintage iron skillet.
Measurements and weight
Condition and restoration
Great overall condition
Stripped to bare metal and seasoned three times
Silky smooth interior cooking surface
Tested on a marble surface: sits dead flat, with no spin
For induction users, the skillet’s flat, stable base is an attractive feature.
An exceptionally appealing piece of Piqua iron: finely cast, unusually light, beautifully smooth, and ready to return to the stove.
