Coffee and cigarettes

Combining functionality with exquisite craftsmanship, and prized by enthusiastic collectors such as Sir Winston Churchill (who reportedly liked to give them as gifts), Dunhill’s table lighters have been a source of fascination for over half a century. Produced in the 1950s using Lucite, a hardy material first used during WWII as a shatter-proof alternative to glass in aircraft windshields, the early lighters were hand carved and painted by master engraver Ben Shillingford (1904-2000), who specialised in the intricate reverse intaglio technique and used dental tools for their precision.This winter, three limited edition iterations of the unique ob- jets have been released to commemorate Dunhill’s 130th anniversary, with two designs featuring fish, and a third featuring an exotic red bird. Only 20 of each will be produced.