Tea at 221B

Home sweet home - our recreation of Sherlock and John's iconic flat.

 

After two years of waiting for the return of super sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his devoted companion, Dr. John Watson, it was with great anticipation that we curled up in front of the television to watch Series 3 of the BBC production of Sherlock! 
 

 
We lucked out in that College Girl has the know-how to use BBC's iPlayer so we could watch the episodes when they aired in the U.K. In the United States the first episode is airing on January 19 on PBS. 

Notice the cane? Meeting the one-and-only Consulting Detective let John, the injured soldier, forget his walking aid and embark on many adventures with his new friend.

After the Series Two cliffhanger where Sherlock seemingly jumps to his death from Bart's Hospital, Series Three opens with John Watson still mourning his friend's death, though he has someone new in his life. I won't give anything away, but if you've read the stories, you'll be pleased! College Girl, who is a big Sherlock fan, suggested we have tea and do a 221B themed photo shoot - she didn't have to twist my arm. 

The teacup is decorated on the outside with a black & white UK weather map accented with old world sailing ships. While a fun surprise adds contrast with the addition of red royal crowns, playfully revealed inside the teacup and on the saucer. An unusual design that blends classic British imagery together to create a new contemporary style.

 

Isn't this cup amazing? It's the very pattern used by Mrs. Hudson, and the one from which Moriarty drinks when he visits Sherlock. This unique teacup was designed by Ali Miller of London. It is called Ireland and UK Weather Map, is trimmed in gold plating and has a tiny clipper ship on the back.  

Moriarty carves a somewhat sinister message into an apple when he comes to see Sherlock at 221B in The Reichenbach Fall. "I owe you a fall, Sherlock."

I was so excited and surprised on Christmas Day when I opened one of my presents and found this beautiful China cup inside, all the way from England. I love it!

 

 

Sherlock's a graduate chemist, and he often conducts gruesome experiments in his flat.  Be careful with that USB - it may just contain top-secret government missile plans.

 In planning our photo shoot College Girl and I made a list of various things seen in Sherlock's flat, as well as items from different episodes. If you've watched the show you'll recognize key props. There are items from the new series too, so I don't want to point them out and give away any spoilers!

 

In The Sign of Three, Sherlock writes a violin piece for his best friend and the new woman in his life.

 One thing we were missing was a Union Jack pillow - that is on our to buy list now!

Sherlock teaches himself to play the violin between cases, eventually beginning to compose his own pieces.

 

If you take a good look at the photos, you'll notice a fancy napkin in the Sydney Opera House Fold. Thinking back to the second episode of Series Three makes me giggle every time I see it :)

Sherlock would be loathe to be caught without his signature dashing blue scarf.

You know, Arthur Conan Doyle never described Sherlock wearing a deerstalker cap! The reason many of us associate this 'fore and aft cap' with Mr. Holmes is due to illustrations by Sydney Paget. 

 I'm enjoying the television series so much that I went straight to the source and began reading the original stories about the distinguished Consulting Detective.

Arthur Conan Doyle, a Scottish physician, wrote fifty-six short stories and four novels detailing the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

"Serial killers are always hard. Have to wait for them to make a mistake." "Yeah, but what mistake?" "PINK!" Sherlock was able to solve a murder by deducing the victim's favorite color.

 Since I don't have the matching Ali Miller teapot, I used my classic British Brown Betty.

This little teapot has quite a history! Its origins date back to the end of the 17th Century and the birth of the British Ceramic Teapot.

The original unglazed teapot was handmade out of red clay from the Bradell Woods area in Stoke-on-Trent. Today, the Brown Betty teapot is still handmade in Stoke-on-Trent with the same clay from the original area. British people believe the Brown Betty makes the best pot of tea because of the type of clay that is used and the shape of the pot. Brown Betty teapots are still lovingly hand-made in Staffordshire England, and are available in 2 cup, 4 cup, 6 cup and 8 cup sizes.

 

221B after Mrs. Hudson tidied up the place

  

 We can't wait for Series 4! Rumor has it that Sherlock creators Moffat and Gatiss already have scripts in the works.  Meanwhile, we will keep an eye open for a Union Jack pillow.

 As Sherlock says, 'the game is on!"

 

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