Dunhill Aquarium Humidor

[99call]

The lighters are cool, though at £7000 I’ve never been interested. Never knew Dunhill Aquarium Humidors existed till today. 

Dunhill Aquariums The Dunhill Aquarium lighters first appeared in 1949. The mastermind behind these extraordinary lighters was Ben Shillingford. Shillingford began working for Dunhill in the late 1940s as a master engraver and perfected the art of carving and painting lucite panels to resemble miniature aquariums. Lucite was developed during World War II as a shatterproof alternative to glass, it is characterised by its transparency, durability, and resistance to yellowing. The lucite panels were hand carved with reverse intaglios using dental tools and drills.

Shillingford 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 and once the designs had been approved by Dunhill. Like Shillingford, Allan Bennett used dental tools to complete the intricate work, before his wife undertook the back painting of the panels, ensuring every lighter was unique. Dunhill Aquariums were a luxury functional object aimed at the wealthy and notable owners and collectors were Sir Winston Churchill and Norah Docker and husband Sir Bernard. It is recorded Winston Churchill 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. On 10th December 2008 Bonhams sold the Allan and Margaret Bennett archive collection.

The collection records that the design for Churchill's box and also an attached photograph that accompanied lots 687 and 688 was believed by the Bennetts to be the humidor presented to Sir Winston Churchill by Sir and Lady Docker. 'Very few aquarium boxes were ever produced and the Bennetts were only told of the recipient once the box had been completed. They recall being informed of a commission by Sir Bernard and Lady Docker, for a box for Churchill, one for themselves and also an aquarium coffee table, the largest piece of work undertaken. It was so big Mr Bennett had to hang it from his studio rafters in order to engrave the design. The Dockers were notoriously extravagant post-war socialites. Sir Bernard was the Chairman of the BSA group, his wife was appointed a director of the coach builder Hooper & Co to advise on matters of style.

The appointment resulted in an extraordinary series of cars' produced during the 1950's became known as the 'Docker Daimlers'. Also by family repute the chauffer Jack 'proudly drove Lord Docker's gold plated one'. This model could refer to the Gold Car, or the Gold Daimler built in 1951. The Gold Car was a touring limousine. The car was covered with 7,000 tiny gold stars, and all plating that would normally have been chrome was gold. 

[mikejh]

I like it.