ALFRED DUNHILL (BRITISH 1872-1959): A rare gilt-plated and lucite 'Aviary' 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 two birds in pink, white and black, the reverse with a single bird of paradise in white, with tree branches and tropical flowers, with vibrant greens and blues, base stamped ‘DUNHILL LIGHTER, MADE IN ENGLAND’ (damages)

8.5cm x 10cm wide x 5cm deep

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.