Griswold “Symbol” cookware — designed by famed industrial designer Peter Muller Munk circa 1964: I believeĀ this might well be the most beautiful mid-century modern cookware ever made. Up until two weeks ago, I didn’t even know it existed. And now, I didn’t score just vintage — I scored New Old Stock Mint in Box eye-poppingĀ orange dutch oven and two-quart saucepan perfection.Ā Love fest ‘o artsy fartsy photos — and then, the scanned brochure — follow.Ā
Peter Muller-Munk, industrial designer
The Griswold Symbol cookware line was designed by Peter Muller-Munk. I had never heard of him before reading this. Indeed, he led one of the top-10 industrial design firms in the country in the postwar years. Muller-MunkĀ was trained as a silversmith — so these pots and pans must have been a particular labor of love. Since the postage indicia on my box is dated Dec. 19, 1964, I will surmise that the Griswold Symbol line was released in 1964. That’s just three years before Muller-Munk’s death. That means he would have been designing them when he was at the peak of his abilities. (I do believe we get better with age!) Of course, he also had a large firm by then — around 40 people, helping. Note: The Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, where Muller-Munk’s firm was based, will feature an exhibition on his work in 2015. I already contacted them to see if they have intrest in featuring my NOS lovelies — wouldn’t that be fabulous!
I wonder why there do not seem to be more of these around. Golly, they are smashing.
“Cook’s Tour of America’s most modern cookware”
Seriously, prepare your eyeballs. I got the good camera out, sought the light, then adjusted the digis in Lightroom, even, to try and ensure that the photos captured the beauty of the rich orange enameled lids. The pans are cast aluminum.
To see the photos enlarged on your screen, just click on them, they should double in size so you can feast your eyes:
Note: The box was sent to a buyer in Hometown, Illinois. Which really exists. š
And you gotta love the typography as well:
Pretty, huh?So now, onto my scans of the little brochure…
Available with a turquoise lid, too
There are a few of these Griswold Symbol pots on ebay right now — one with a turquoise lid, too.
ByĀ the time this cookware was introduced, the famed Griswold manufacturing entity and brand was owned by Textron, a conglomerate that still exists today. The Textron logo is shown on the penultimate page of the brochure, in fact. I would do more research … but I’m clearing the decks so’s I can makeĀ The Last Roadtrip to World of Tile.Ā I would love to find out more about this cookware line!
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Diane in CO says
Totally fantastic! I’m also crazy about orange; orange is the new black, you know.
I’m betting you won’t cook with them. š Kitchen art….
pam kueber says
Yes, this is why I think they might get donated to the Museum!
Shambie says
I couldn’t find anything on eBay. Did someone already snatch the turquoise? š
pam kueber says
go into completed listings on ebay – left hand column nav
Rick S says
Pam,
great find. It just shows there are new/old things to discover every day. Your orange was on it’s way to the 70’s. I wonder if it was a “new” color in 1964.
I bet you paid more than 49 cents postage too.
rick
pam kueber says
I know! And orange is my favorite color – Kate’s too!
Kate says
Yes, I am SUPER JEALOUS! š
linda h says
Orange is an accent color in my olive green kitchen. I would love to have pans like those. Going to ebay right now!
Kate says
OOHHHHHHH! Those are STUNNING. You lucky girl you! Jealous over here.. š
Beverly says
Love this cookware!!
I have 3 questions:
May we ask where you found them?
How much we might expect to pay if we also could find them?
Are you going to use them?
Thanks!
Beverly
Jay says
Never saw these before, saw lots of Griswold though. They look great on your turqoise counter. Will you use them or just gaze at them?
Nice insert. All you get now a days is black and white printing on cheap paper.
Looking forward to your trip report from WOT and any updates you can provide.
Glad to see you geting back into your usual warp speed after that Tiki Voodoo incident.
pam kueber says
š
i am cured. just saw the dr. yesterday. will file a report soon-ish
Jay says
Great to hear but all the same be careful lifting all that irresistable tile into the back of your car. I know you won’t come back empty handed.
Robin, NV says
Ooh! I love these. What a great color and the handle for the pot lid is so fun! There’s so much neat MCM stuff out there lurking, waiting to be refound. I came within inches of buying a harvest gold fondue set the other day but resisted the impulse.
Nancy B says
Beautiful!! You will have to do a follow up after you have used them! Not that it really matters, they are so cool to look at! Great find!
Allen says
These are beautiful! I hope the museum decides to feature them. what are the search terms that you used to find these?
pam kueber says
Griswold orange, Griswold turquoise, Griswold aluminum, Griswold Symbol – I think those are the ones I played with.
Allen says
Thanks for leading me to something else that catches my eye!