ALFRED DUNHILL (BRITISH 1872-1959) Preview: Barley Mow

ALFRED DUNHILL (BRITISH 1872-1959): An Aquarium lighter, service size, circa 1950s with gold plated hardware, the engraved and painted perspex body with three red and silver fish amongst water plants and rocks on deep and pale blue ground, to one side, with similar end panels, the reverse with a single larger fish, with silver fins, red, silver and black body, the underside engraved "MADE IN ENGLAND", patent no 143752.

7.2cm high x 5.7cm long

Notes: Dunhill Aquarium Lighters are miniature works of art that first appeared in 1949 and were made until 1959. They were a luxury functional object aimed at the wealthy and notable owners and collectors of Dunhill Aquarium Lighters were Sir Winston Churchill, the IT couple of post-war Britain Norah Docker and husband Sir Bernard and most recently Timothy Oulton.

The lighters were made from lucite, characterized by its transparency, durability, and resistance to yellowing. The panels that formed the lighters were hand carved with reverse intaglios using tools and drills.

The panels were then painted and applied to the lighters’ bodies in four distinct sections. All the lighters were hand carved and painted so everyone is unique. The main artist on many of the lighters was Ben Shillingford and later on husband and wife team of Margaret and Allan Bennett.