It’s not difficult to see how these uber-collectable lighters got their name. Not only do they resemble miniature fish tanks, but most were decorated with aquatic subjects. The thick layer of Lucite, a material developed by the American air force during the Second World War, provides an illusion of movement.
However, it is the so-called ‘non-aquatic aquariums’ depicting subjects other than fish that bring the highest prices.
For these rarer or bespoke examples, the makers – Ben Shillingford at Dunhill and Allan and Margaret Bennett working from their home on the south coast – would use reference books and their own artistic talents to produce a design in pencil and watercolour and then carve it into the plastic using dentistry tools.
The lighters were made from 1949-59. Winston Churchill was one of many wealthy and notable owners and collectors.
Rare designs included an ‘aviary’ lighter with an intaglio carved woodpecker to one side and an osprey to the other (estimate £5000-8000) and a bespoke lighter decorated with a view of the Cunard ocean liner RMS Queen Elizabeth (£4000-6000).
Both sold at the sale on August 23 within hopes at £6500 and £4200 respectively.
The auction record for an Alfred Dunhill ‘aquarium’ lighter had been set at Chiswick Auctions in December when a version depicting a pair of water birds to one side and a snowy heron to the other raced away to bring £13,000 (see ATG No 2574).