Hellobee Boards

I have no idea, but I'd use it over another cast iron to make bacon and drip the grease. But maybe I'm just craving bacon Curious to see what it actually is!

It might be for cooking over an open flame like a grill basket. Or it belongs to a set

I bet you could email the company. Vintage cast iron can be valuable

@jetsa: If you're really curious I used to work for a kitchenwares store and I can give you their email (or I can email it to them) and ask. We didn't sell Griswold brand, but the owner has been working with cookware for 40+ years, and between her and the buyer they'd know exactly what it's used for.

@jetsa: Sure, I'll email tonight. I've been meaning to, anyway!

ETA: Unless you'd rather email them yourself?

my dh says it is a skillet of some form for over a flame.
I am very curious!

@jetsa: I have bad news. You've managed to stump 4 people with a collective 130+ years of kitchenwares experience!

From the email I got back this morning:

"Hi Sarah,

Thanks for writing.

I spoke with Nick, Alice, Mari and Nadia, and none of them could give me a definite answer as to what the item is used for.

Alice had this to say, "Griswold is a very, very old and now defunct cast iron foundry from the early 1900's. Maybe even back to the 1800's. Griswold items are collector's pieces now and go for large sums on-line."

Nadia seems to believe it may be a stovetop broiler of some kind, and Nick said it might be a griddle. I think it's possible your suggestion below (indoor grill) may also be a good use for it.

Sorry I can't give you a more concise answer than this, seems you've stumped the lot of us.

Have a great new year!"

Sorry!

@jetsa: They just emailed me again, with these two images Nick (who I guess wasn't content with a "not really sure...") pulled from this website: http://www.wag-society.org/ They now think it's definitely some sort of grill pan.