An ‘Aquarium’ table lighter in ‘Half-Giant’ or table size, with gold-plated hardware, and four Perspex panels. These wonderfully designed and beautifully executed lighters are all unique, more often than not depicting an underwater scene featuring either fresh-water fish or sea-water (but never both) creating a unique work of art. The ‘Aquarium’ lighters were all designed and hand-made between 1950 and 1959, by Ben Shillingford (1904-2000) whose unique skills in designing, carving and hand-painting the Perspex panels could never be equaled. Upon his retirement, the skills necessary to continue to manufacture the ‘Aquarium’ lighter could not be found, and production ceased. The ‘Aquarium’ lighter was made in two sizes, the ‘Half-Giant’ and the smaller (and somewhat rarer) ‘Service’ size. They were available in three metal finishes, namely gold-plated, silver-plated and chromium-plated, and all were, of course, fuelled with petrol rather than butane, which came into common usage in the 1960s. A great example with clear panels with very crisp painting. One side features a good size Cherry Barb on its own, and the other has a number of smaller, colorful, fish like the Guppy. Each end panel features climbing giant kelp forrests, which is very common on these tropical scene lighters. It was made in England, circa 1950. This lighter is fully operational with cotton wick. The base has a removable screw which has a wadding for the petrol which will need to be filled. There is a brand-new flint fitted.