Vintage Favorite Piqua Ware No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet – Smiley Logo – Early 1900s Lightweight Premium Casting
Offered here is a beautifully preserved Favorite Piqua Ware No. 10 cast iron skillet featuring the highly desirable \"Smiley Logo\" trademark of the Favorite Stove & Range Company of Piqua, Ohio. Produced during the golden age of American cast iron manufacturing, these skillets have earned a reputation among collectors and cooks alike for their exceptionally fine castings, lighter weight, and remarkably smooth cooking surfaces.
Measuring approximately 11.5 inches across the rim and 2.25 inches deep, this substantial No. 10 skillet weighs only about 5.4 pounds—noticeably lighter than many competing cast iron pans of similar size. That reduced weight was no accident. Favorite Stove & Range became famous for producing thinner, more refined castings while maintaining excellent strength and heat retention.
Turn the skillet over and you\'ll find the classic \"Favorite Piqua Ware\" Smiley Logo cast proudly into the bottom along with the size designation \"10.\" The casting is exceptionally clean and crisp, reflecting the company\'s reputation for precision foundry work during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The cooking surface is a joy. Decades of use and care have created the silky-smooth finish that modern cast iron enthusiasts spend countless hours trying to replicate. The interior remains beautifully hand-polished from generations of cooking, showing only the faintest hairline utensil marks under close inspection. There are no deep scratches, gouges, or abuse. It presents exactly as a well-loved and well-maintained vintage skillet should.
The pan sits extremely well. On a glass surface there is only the slightest hint of movement—so minor that approximately two sheets of standard copy paper under the low point eliminates it entirely. A business card proves too thick. In practical terms, this is excellent performance for a skillet approaching or exceeding a century in age.
Condition overall is outstanding. The iron is clean, dark, and evenly seasoned with an attractive patina developed over decades of honest use. No cracks, no repairs, and no significant damage observed. The casting remains sharp and well-defined, while the interior retains the kind of smoothness that has made vintage American cast iron legendary among serious cooks.
Favorite Stove & Range operated in Piqua, Ohio from the late 1800s until the 1930s and produced some of the finest cookware ever made in America. Many collectors place Favorite Piqua Ware alongside the best offerings from Griswold and Wagner. The company\'s Smiley Logo pieces are especially sought after because they represent the firm\'s most recognizable and collectible production era.
Whether you\'re building a serious cast iron collection, searching for a daily-use heirloom skillet, or simply appreciate American manufacturing at its finest, this No. 10 Favorite Piqua Ware skillet delivers everything enthusiasts look for: smooth cooking surface, lightweight casting, excellent condition, and a century of history.
A wonderful example of one of America\'s most respected vintage cast iron skillets—ready for another hundred years of service.
Estimated Date: Circa 1916–1935
Measurements:
- 11.5\" diameter
- 2.25\" deep
- Approximately 5.4 lbs
- Sidewalls are about the same thickness of a US Nickel ! (see pics).
Condition:
- No cracks
- No repairs
- Smooth, hand-polished cooking surface
- Only faint/fine utensil marks from normal historical use
- Extremely minor surface wobble/tick on glass (approximately two sheets of computer paper correct it)
- Attractive dark seasoning and patina
- Ready for display, collection, or everyday cooking
