A Singular Tale - Sherlock Holmes in Miniature

Another foggy morning in London and in the street below hansom cabs rattle over wet cobbles. Breakfast has been forgotten as a tearful young lady struggles to share her tale; a brother missing and a fortune lost. Mr Sherlock Holmes has his Gladstone bag packed and about to dash off on another one of his adventures.

Dr Watson is less inclined to leave the warmth of the fire, knowing all too well they will forego Mrs. Hudson's splendid meal as he is called upon to help solve yet another mystery. There are clues to be looked at, suspects to be interviewed and evidence gathered to be examined later at the chemistry table. Holmes, after all, is Victorian England's best-known CSI.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle author of the tales of Sherlock Holmes, was once referred to as "the best known living Englishman of his time". For Doyle, it was more than a touch of irony that his fictional character gained far more noteriety, eclipsing his author and seemingly taking on a life of his own.

BAKER STREET IRREGULARS

In January each year this band gather to celebrate Holme's birthday with a dinner in his honour. A large number of websites are dedicated to Sherlockiana. In London, 1000's visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The British police called their new computer system HOLMES. Books, plays, films and TV programmes are constantly being produced to this day.

DEB'S INTEREST IS SPARKED

In 1990 fellow miniaturist Dee Snyder revealed her long time fascination with Sherlock Holmes in an American miniature magazine, but it would be decades before Deb decided to tackle a Baker Street vignette of her own. When she did, it was because she found the perfect doll.

THE PERFECT DOLL

Made by doll maker Fern Vasi, who recreated the actor Ronald Howard who played Sherlock in 1954, the handsome, affable young dectective - and Deb just had to have that doll!

Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson & The Lovely Lady Client

CREATING 221B BAKER STREET

Not any fascimilie of the house described by Dr. Watson, but a vignette of her own creation which would contain a few key elements that best represented this iconic dwelling to Deb. The room box was created by Peter Tucker, which brought 221B Baker Street alive with warm wainscotting, coffered ceiling, barrister bookcases and a large bay window. Dr. Watson also made by Fern Vasi based upon Howard's co-star of the same film sits in a beautiful leather chair by Desiree Lafuente, who also made the sofa. Gladstone the bulldog was made by Kerri Pajutee snoozes by the fire. The cast Iron fireplace is by Sue Cook.

The lovely red-haired client doll is by Cindy Gates (see photo above). The oriental carpet is by Classic Carpets. On the fireplace are a stack of unread letters held down by a jack-knife made by Jim Watt, who also made the Victorian mantle clock and the coal scuttle. A bust of Napoleon is by Verona Barrella-Talcot, slippers by Brian Tepper of Rainbow Hand, and cigars by Taller Targioni.

CHARACTERISTIC ITEMS

Beside the couch on a Bespaq table are Holmes' hookah and a wooden box with the detective's hypodermic syringe made by James Watt. Beside the fireplace is a barley twist table by Pierre Wallack filled with various glass chemical paraphernalia by Ray Storey, a monocular microscope by Jim Watt and a brass scale and wieghts by the late Ron Stetkewicz.

A beautiful hand-crafted burl-wood secretary is made by Dutch maker Kees De Witt, and is stuffed full of telegrams and books. Beside the secretary is a violin stand with violin by Chris Sturgess-Leif. The sideboard is by Bespaq and has silver candelabrum, decanters and a cobalt blue and silver gasogene by Jim Watt.

The portrait over the sideboard is of renowned beauty Irene Adler by Chris Deighton and is in honour of the only woman wo ever outsmarted Sherlock Holmes. He fondly referred to her as 'the woman' and this portrait would be his constant reminder.

The lace draped breakfast table by Studebaker Miniatures is set with Stokesay Ware blue willow pattern china, silver by Mike Sparrow, and a full English breakfast by Merry Gourmet Miniaures. The barrister bookcases are filled with bookes by Kristin Wyzik.

"Here dwell together two men of note

Who never lived and so can never die....

And here, though the world explode,

these two survive

And it is always eighteen ninety-five."

This article was originally published in Dolls House and Miniature Scene magazine. If you enjoy reading about miniatures why not buy yourself a copy of the magazine, or better still, take out a subscription so you never miss an exciting issue. Our directory has details of many suppliers of miniatures, room boxes and kits, so why not take a look. If you are a fan of Facebook or Twitter, please use the buttons at the top of the page to share this article with your friends.