Dream Lighters

[TroutBum]

More of a bic guy at this stage in life but would love a Ligne 2

[El Presidente]

 

Alfred Dunhill - Aquarium Table Lighter, London 

 

 

 

 

https://antique-collecting.co.uk/2019/08/13/guide-to-dunhill-aquarium-lighters/

Dunhill aquarium lighters from the 1950s are iconic and in demand with collectors, writes Nicholas Wells. It seems the less we smoke the more collectors crave these bright sparks

Smoking fashion

Both sides of an aquarium lighter for sale at Woolley and Wallis’ design sale on October 16

With the pariah status of smokers today, it’s difficult to conjure up an era when the habit was not only de riguer, but the height of fashion. A time when when smoking was so chic, it came with a number of stylish accoutrements. Our diminishing love affair with nicotine has sparked a passion for smoking paraphernalia.

None less so than in the field of lighters – with one brand and one style standing out. Many years ago Piers Woodnutt, my great friend and colleague at the London dealer Mallett, introduced me to a field of collecting I knew very little about.

Dunhill Aquarium Lighters

Since seeing and handling the first Dunhill aquarium lighters, I have been spellbound by them ever since. They are incredibly realistic pieces of art with beautiful depth and complexity that to this day offer a timeless addition to any antique collection.

They cross the divide of a functional luxury object, combined with a quirkiness and uniqueness that makes every one of them special. Combine this with a limited supply and, voila, you have a strong collecting field fuelled by enthusiastic collectors and dealers aspiring to have the best collections.

Smoking Boom

The lighters and boxes were made from lucite, which was developed in WWII as an alternative to glass, because of its shatterproof qualities, it was invaluable for everything from airplane windshields to submarine periscopes.

Following the conflict, the remaining lucite stock found its way into artists’ studios, designers’ workshops and jewellery makers’ shops.

A Dunhill aquarium lighter, perspex and gold plated, height 8cm, length 10cm. Estimated at £1,200-£1,800, it sold for £3,240 in 2008, image courtesy of Bonhams

The panels were hand carved with reverse intaglios using dental tools and drills. As the range grew, scenes became populated with ever more ambitious designs of varying depth and complexity. The panels were then painted and applied to the lighters’ bodies in four distinct sections.

The design was available in three metal finishes: gold-plate, silver-plate and chromium-plate gold. Each came with a curved lift arm stamped ‘Dunhill’ and a registration mark on the back.

The Dunhill aquarium lighters were produced in four sizes, the giant (weighing a mighty 450 grams without fuel and designed to live on a table) the half-giant, the standard and the smaller (and somewhat rarer) service size.

They were fuelled with petrol rather than butane, which came into common usage in the 1960s. The flint was located in front of a sprung screw running parallel to the lift arm, ready to spark across a wick, primed to ignite. The flame was safely despatched by the sprung arm, which provided a satisfying clunk on closing.

Aristocratic customers

Dunhill counted royalty, aristocrats and the European elite among its clients, including the cigar-smoking Sir Winston Churchill who kept a Dunhill aquarium lighter on his desk at Chartwell Manor, as well as a rare large Dunhill cigar box, which was a present from Sir Bernard and Lady Docker.

The Dockers were famous socialites in the post-war period. Sir Bernard was the chairman of BSA group who commissioned Daimler to make a series of cars for his wife, Norah.

By repute, Churchill gave aquarium lighters as gifts, including one to Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime minister of Pakistan.

Dunhill Aquarium Lighters’ Artists

In the early production period the lucite panels were carved by Ben Shillingford (1904-2000) a Master Engraver responsible for the painstaking reverse intaglio technique.

Shillingford never depicted fresh and salt water fish together, image courtesy of Timothy Oulton

He was joined by the husband and wife team of Margaret and Allan Bennett who met at art school and worked on the lighters at a studio in their south coast home.

While Margaret was responsible for the pencil and watercolour blueprints, it was Allan who carved the panels once the designs had been approved by Dunhill. Like Shillingford, he used dental tools to complete the intricate work, before his wife undertook the back painting of the panels, ensuring every lighter was unique.

It is interesting to note the difference between Shillingford’s work and pieces produced by the Bennetts. Shillingford’s work is generally less vibrant and more simplistic with a different colour background to the side and end panels.

It was Allan Bennett who suggested an all-round background colour would work well. The majority of the Bennetts’ designs depicted tropical fish in a tank, although some of Margaret’s more unusual designs – given the underwater setting – included a budgerigar.

So successful were the lighters, that the Bennetts were soon turning out a dozen a week, as well as undertaking repairs for Dunhill’s clients.

Shillingford’s skills were so outstanding that when he retired the skills necessary to continue manufacturing the aquarium lighter could not be found and production ceased.

London antique dealer Nicholas Wells owns Nicholas Wells Antiques Ltd which specialises in antiques, curiosities and fine art. He began his career 20 years ago at Mallett at Bourdon House which closed in 2007. His collection, which includes a selection of Dunhill lighters, is by appointment only. For more details visit www.nicholaswells.com

[MickVanWinkle]

Found out my (now) wife actually does listen to my mumblings and rants when she surprised me with a Le Grand as a wedding gift.  Had to get a case so I’d actually feel comfortable ever using it.

[TR]

1 hour ago, MickVanWinkle said:

Found out my (now) wife actually does listen to my mumblings and rants when she surprised me with a Le Grand as a wedding gift.  Had to get a case so I’d actually feel comfortable ever using it.

I have that same set up. Love it.

[NSXCIGAR]

The Eagle Torch is my dream lighter because I have nightmares about every other lighter when I break it, lose it or it just craps out as has happened with every $30+ lighter I've ever owned. 

Long live the $5 Eagle Torch! 

[El Hoze]

I have a bunch of high end lighters but I have zero tolerance for not being able to find a lighter when I need one so I keep bowls of Eagle Torch in all of my smoking areas. 

[KCCubano]

8 hours ago, El Hoze said:

I have a bunch of high end lighters but I have zero tolerance for not being able to find a lighter when I need one so I keep bowls of Eagle Torch in all of my smoking areas.

The Eagles I bought ten yrs ago are still kicking it with no issues. 

[Nevrknow]

Eagles and Vertigos. The expensive ones stay in my safe. I forget how many I even have.

[NSXCIGAR]

17 hours ago, KCCubano said:

The Eagles I bought ten yrs ago are still kicking it with no issues. 

Oddly I just had two bought in the last year crap out. Trigger stops clicking. I can't recall any others have that happen. 

[RDB]

I’m another one who has some lovely lighters, and always uses crappy cheap torches.

[El Presidente]

 

JAPANESE LAMP-FORM GORHAM CIGAR LIGHTER

 

 

[looseleaf]

[Fuzz]

On 3/28/2024 at 9:36 AM, looseleaf said:

[Chibearsv]

3 hours ago, Fuzz said:

I’m shocked you don’t have Mecha Godzilla 

[VictorEremita]

I've always wanted a vintage Dunhill Tallboy or Wheatsheaf.