Pforzheim with import marks for London 1927 by Alfred Dunhill
An early 20th century German sterling silver and enamel 'fancy shape' pocket lighter and watch

Of rounded lobed form with two colour opaque enamel of salmon pink edged with cornflower blue. Hinged watch section with a glazed oval aperture to a silvered elongated octagonal dial painted with Arabic numerals, signed DUNHILL and SWISS. Movement manual-winding caliber, 15 jewels, three adjustments. Petrol chamber access beneath. Opposable straight arm. Fully and part-marked with import marks, stamped 369 throughout, PAT APP FOR, and to watch case reverse SWITZERLAND DUNHILL, the underside of lighter DUNHILL LONDON.

Length – 5.2 cm / 2.05 inches

Gross weight – 77 grams

Available as a guilloche enamel as well as opaque enamel, the fancy shape was also available as a teardrop shape and a circular form, with varying rectangular or oval dials and many colourways. Introduced in 1927 at a cost of £14.10 shillings.

An example of this exact form, import year the same, in a differing colourway of electric blue and black was sold Rowley’s 15 Sep 2015, lot 555, (£5500 hammer)