ALFRED DUNHILL (BRITISH 1872-1959)

ALFRED DUNHILL (BRITISH 1872-1959): A gilt-plated and lucite 'Aquarium' lighter, electroplated gilt mounts, four lucite panels, each deeply engraved in reverse intaglio technique and hand-painted to create a three-dimensional effect, the front panel depicting a coy carp in shades of pink and grey, the reverse with three small fish, with rocky waterbed and water plants, the round in vibrant greens and blues, base stamped ‘DUNHILL LIGHTER, MADE IN ENGLAND’ (damages)

8cm high x 10cm wide

On view at our Barley Mow Salerooms, Barley Mow Centre, Chiswick, London W4 4PH

On view at our Barley Mow Salerooms, Barley Mow Centre, Chiswick, London W4 4PH

From the early 1950's until the late 1960's all of the Dunhill 'Aquarium' lighters were produced by Allan & Margaret Bennett in their south coast home. The majority depicted tropical fish in a tank setting. For rarer examples such as this Budgerigar piece Mrs Bennett would use a reference book along with her own artistic talents to produce a design in pencil and watercolour. Once approved by Dunhill, Mr Bennett would use dentistry tools to carve the Perspex panels. Mrs Bennett would then undertake the back painting of the panels, thus ensuring every lighter was unique.