Dunhill ‘Miniature Onyx’ and ‘Bijou Giant’ lighters, 1936-1954

Alfred Dunhill, London

(Left) a scarce ‘Miniature Onyx’ table lighter by Dunhill, in new-old-stock and completely unused condition, first appearing in Dunhill’s 1954 catalogue. The body of the lighter in carved white onyx with silver-plated hardware and has its original cardstock box with crest BY APPOINTMENT TO THE LATE KING GEORGE VI.

Length: 2¾ inches (7 cm), height 3 inches (7½ cm)

REFERENCE: 6843
Price Code: ££

(Right) a rare ‘Bijou Giant’ table lighter also by Dunhill, similarly in unused original condition, this earlier model first seen in 1936. The body of the lighter is wrapped in green shagreen with silver-plated hardware and has its original cardstock box with crest BY APPOINTMENT TOBACCONISTS TO H.M. THE KING. With registration number 737418 and DUNHILL MADE IN ENGLAND on the base, and original handwritten label to the side of the box. Given that this lighter was hand labelled as a ‘Bijou Giant’ which appeared in the 1936 catalogue (to be renamed the following year to the ‘Half Giant’), we can accurately date this example to the design’s original release in 1936.

Length: 3¼ inches (8½ cm), height 2 ½ inches (6½ cm)

REFERENCE: 6844
Price Code: ££

Both models are Illustrated on pages 212 & 216 of ‘The Dunhill Petrol Lighter – A unique Story’ by Blei and Bottoni, the definitive reference work on the Dunhill petrol lighter, in which both are described as ‘uncommon to rare’.

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