What did I just buy?

[Spurgeon Hendrick]

I saw an estate sale sign and had to stop. Normally, I would pass on a skillet with this much pitting, but it was something I’ve never seen before ... and it was $3.

I can’t tell if the legs have been filed down, but they aren’t long enough, so it won’t sit flat.

It kind of looks like it might be the lid to a combo cooker? The pitting on the bottom looks more like poor casting, than pitting, to me. Maybe a recast? Asian?

[Russell Ware]

Well, if you want to double your money, I'll give you $6 for it. That is one really old skillet. The wide rim is so that it sits down into the stove eye. The three short legs are the correct length, so it can be sat on a flat surface once cooking is complete.
Say hello to your oldest piece of iron.
It's in very good condition. That pitting is nothing to worry about.
Search the Early Iron Board on the Members side. I know there are some threads concerning skillets like yours.

[Lee Bowen]

What ever it is, I think you scored really heavy on this one. Should fit right down into the top of a wood cook stove, or even a wood heater. I'll be glad to triple your money and pay for shipping. [smiley=appl.gif]

[Duke Gilleland]

Lee, about a year ago I cleaned one of those for a local man. Of course my curiosity got the best of me and I got to "looking". What you have there is a "posnet" cooking vessel.
From what I found they were made of different metals and variations. When I first saw the one I cleaned, I thought it was a double boiler of some kind or may. Maybe a insert to an EARLY glue pot. They all have a good bit of age to them.
 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cast-Iron-Charles-II-Bronze-Posnet-Cooking-Pot-Spider-Skillet-3-Leg-Antique-Rare/124120231744?_trkparms=aid%3D1110009%26algo%3DSPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200220094952%26meid%3Df682aba2b9be4a9cb21ef500b5d926c4%26pid%3D100752%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D254544465829%26itm%3D124120231744%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3Ddefault&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982 

[Duke Gilleland]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Antique-Footed-Cast-Iron-Skillet-Pan-10-1-2-w-Flat-Handle/363116047571?hash=item548b672cd3:g:QEcAAOSwWWFfWT-l

[Scott Price]

Hi all,

Nice purchase!

This is not a Posnet. Posnet gets thrown around so much. Today for a quick test I searched for Posnet on Newspapers.com. It doesnt have all of the papers but plenty to make the point of Posnet vs. Spider (or Skillet). The hits on Posnet was just shy of 4000 from now back to the 1700s.  Most of those hits were about a play called "Blanco Posnet" so back in the day no Posnet, only Spider. It is one of many styles that fell under the name of Spider. Called a round bottom Spider just to distinguish the difference.

These were made as early as 1830s to the 1850s. There are marked pieces from that period. Most times the feet were not high enough to prevent the pan from rocking. There should be a post or two in the Early Iron section.

[Dwayne Henson]

Love those!

[Scott Price]

Very nice Dwayne!

[Dwayne Henson]

Thank you Scott. Found in Missouri. They cook great on the big propane camp stove. Especially mushrooms, minced garlic with lemon juice.

[Duke Gilleland]

THANKS Scott for getting my info straightened out