Today’s Mini-Mystery:
Why do the illustrations crafted for the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes mysteries NOT show the great detective as we so often think of him today with his signature calabash pipe clenched between his teeth? Discover the fascinating history of that remarkable smoking accessory by checking out this one-minute video or the transcript below.
Check out this 1-minute mini-mystery.
Transcript:
Happy Sherlock Holmes Day, and happy birthday to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Today’s mini-mystery? Why do the illustrations crafted for the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes mysteries NOT show the great detective as we so often think of him today with his signature calabash pipe clenched between his teeth?
The reason is that Sherlock Holmes never smoked a calabash pipe. The fancy gourd-shaped pipe is reported to have been used later as a stage and screen prop because of its ostentatious presence. Holmes smoked more common briar, clay, and cherrywood pipes.
Not surprisingly, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself also smoked a pipe, though little is known about the type he enjoyed.
For Mystery’s History, until next time, I’m Donald Jay.
So interesting! I had no idea.
Thanks, Dianna!
I once considered taking up pipe smoking but somehow never did. It’s probably just as well. I was intrigued by meerschaum pipes and probably would have spent a small fortune on them. So I’ve saved that money … in theory.
Not to mention saving your lungs, huh. But I know what you mean about meerschaum pipes.