We often take things for granted when it comes to enjoying a quality smoke, especially our lighters. From Bics to Zippos and IM Corona Old Boys, you're bound to underestimate their importance till it's not working. However, beyond their innate usefulness, there's a lot to appreciate in a well-constructed and attractive lighter, and one particular lighter that may perhaps be misunderstood in its modern incarnation is the Dunhill Aquarium Table Lighter.

History of the Dunhill Aquarium Lighter

Dunhill introduced their brand of lighters in 1923 with the release of the Dunhill Unique, produced by Wise and Green with a lift-arm patent. Three years later in 1926, Dunhill would buy them out and make the Unique exclusive to Dunhill. Dunhills' offerings continued to evolve over the years with the release of lighters like the Unity, Savory, Rolalite, and others. While all these lighters are the embodiment of sophistication and luxury, the Dunhill Aquarium lighter stood apart.

Ben Shillingford began working for Dunhill in the late 1940s as a Master Engraver, and the "Aquarium" collection was very much a masterwork testament to his precision and artistic sensibilities. The collection was launched in 1949 and ran until the late 1950s following the retirement of Shillingford, as no one could replicate his craftsmanship.

These lighters were made in four distinct sizes: the "Giant," the "Half-Giant,', the "standard," and the "service," with three metal finishes available: gold-plated, silver-plated, and chrome-plated. Each came with a curved lift arm stamped "Dunhill" and a registration mark on the back. The Giant and Half-Giant were designed to be centerpiece table lighters with the Standard and Service being more portable designs. Each vintage Aquarium lighter and its box was made from Lucite, which was developed during World War 2 as an alternative to glass and boasted shatterproof qualities.

the "Aquarium" collection was very much a masterwork

The panels featured in one of these vintage lighters were hand carved by Shillingford with reverse intaglios using dental tools and drills. As the range of these lighters grew, scenes became more populated with ambitious designs. After the carving, each panel would be painted and applied to the lighters' bodies in four distinct sections. No two Dunhill aquarium lighters are the same; each one of these vintage pieces was meticulously handmade, carved, painted, and assembled by Shillingford, and eventually, his team. Shillingford was joined by the husband-and-wife team of Margaret and Allan Bennett. Margaret was responsible for pencil and watercolor blueprints, while Allan carved the panels using dental tools to complete the intricate details. Then Margaret would back-paint the panels.

No two Dunhill aquarium lighters are the same

This did introduce a difference between Shillingford's pieces that were produced by the Bennetts and those produced without them. Shillingford's work without the Bennetts tended to be less vibrant and more toned down with different color backgrounds to the side and end panels. Allan would be the one to suggest an all-around background color, though most of the Bennetts' designs featured tropical fish with some outliers here and there.

The Aquarium series proved to be a spectacular hit and soon the team was turning out a dozen a week in addition to repairs. As mentioned above, the line was discontinued around 1959 when Shillingford retired and no suitable replacement could be found.

Dunhill Aquarium Lighters in the Modern Day

As almost all Dunhill Aquarium lighters are vintage, one-of-a-kind works of art, securing one can be a bit of a challenge. Most people who own one know what they have, so you're more lucky than a lottery winner if you find one at an antique store. The majority of the mainline series go up for auction between $9,000 to $12,000 or more for a basic version. Even rarer private commissions for the likes of celebrities like Donald Campbell have gone to auction for as high as $38,000. Other commissioned lighters like Winston Churchill's iconic piece are delegated to museums.

most of the Bennetts' designs featured tropical fish with some outliers

We do have a once-in-a-lifetime offering at Smokingpipes. In 2023, to commemorate Dunhill's 130th anniversary, Dunhill released another batch of their Aquarium table lighters. The particular blue Aquarium piece we have on offer had its filigree work done entirely by a veteran jeweler with over 40 years of experience in the field. Palladium plates at the top and bottom frame a slotted area in which a Dunhill Turbo lighter with Rollagas accent work sits.

you're more lucky than a lottery winner if you find one at an antique store

Coming in at a crisp $12,100, the 2023 Dunhill Aquarium Table Lighter is no impulse purchase, but for the discerning collector looking to own a functional piece of art with historical relevance, there are few opportunities equal to this. Even if you aren't interested in owning one, perhaps you can now appreciate these masterpieces a little more, and if you ever see one in the wild then you can impress your companions with newfound information.

Bibliography

• N.D. (2022, June 7). Dunhill Aquarium Lighters - the ultimate guide. Antique Collecting.
• Wells, N. (2021, December 17).'Spellbound' by Dunhill Aquarium. Medium.