TOBACCIANAObjects, Craft & Cultural History
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Designing portable fire

The Lighter Archive

Ninety years of mechanical ingenuity, surface treatment and changing social ritual, presented as industrial and decorative art.

Vintage lighter typology

Typology 01

Mechanism
becomes form.

Table, pocket, trench and novelty lighters each answer a different relationship between flame, hand and interior.

Architectural Table Lighter, c. 1930–1939View Artifact

TBC 0047

Architectural Table Lighter

Maker unconfirmed · c. 1930–1939

Material
Brass & black lacquer
Origin
Western Europe
Chrome Trench Lighter, c. 1940sView Artifact

TBC 0072

Chrome Trench Lighter

Unattributed · c. 1940s

Material
Chrome-plated brass
Origin
Central Europe
Engine-Turned Pocket Lighter, c. 1960sView Artifact

TBC 0118

Engine-Turned Pocket Lighter

Maker unconfirmed · c. 1960s

Material
Gold-tone brass
Origin
France
Sculptural Table Lighter, c. 1950sView Artifact

TBC 0151

Sculptural Table Lighter

Unattributed · c. 1950s

Material
Cast brass
Origin
Italy
Atomic Enamel Pocket Lighter, c. 1960sView Artifact

TBC 0203

Atomic Enamel Pocket Lighter

Unattributed · c. 1960s

Material
Enamel & brass
Origin
Japan