RDJ's Holmes: Pipe in Train Scene

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filtronovendicatore

Lurker

Aug 3, 2015

2

0

• Aug 3, 2015

• #1

Hi, all! Newer pipe smoker and first-time poster looking for the type/style/design/make/brand/etc. of pipe smoked by Robert Downey Jr. in "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." Here is a clip of the scene containing that pipe: Sherlock's Pipe in Train Scene. In case the link doesn't work, here's the URL: https://youtu.be/-_L5f6EhJT8. The pipe can be seen at about 20 seconds into the clip.
Thanks for the help.
Regards.

 

disinformatique

Lifer

Jun 10, 2014

1,763

42

44

Bangalore, India and St. Petersburg Florida

• Aug 3, 2015

• #2

Seems like an opium pipe or a japanese style very fine tobacco pipe.

 

P

pipebuddy

Guest

• Aug 3, 2015

• #3

Welcome to the forums.
Hmmm, it's an odd one. I know there are mentions, in the novels, that Holmes smoked a black coloured clay pipe. That one is black but I am not sure if it's clay - I would expect it to be longer if it was made with clay.

 

F

filtronovendicatore

Lurker

Aug 3, 2015

2

0

• Aug 3, 2015

• #4

@disinformatique and @pipebuddy, thanks for the input. It's such a unique design. I have a couple of larger/average size pipes, so I like the alternative, compact design, even if only for decoration in my collection. Think searching for an opium pipe will raise any red flags?

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator

Staff member

May 12, 2015

24,708

27,308

Carmel Valley, CA

• Aug 3, 2015

• #5

If you're at all concerned about authenticity, I'd ignore most everything in the movie.... But good luck!
Has the calabash been established as Holmes' pipe, or has that been disproved?

 

pipesmokingtom

Lifer

May 4, 2015

3,210

16

• Aug 3, 2015

• #6

Nothing about Calabash mentioned in the literature. That was specific to a particular actors portrayal, so he could perform the dialogue while clenching is what I understand.

 

xrundog

Part of the Furniture Now

Oct 23, 2014

737

1

Ames, IA

• Aug 3, 2015

• #7

In the first movie he smokes what looks like a Grabow Starfire zulu with what looks like a vulcanite stem with a wide bit. Not period correct at all.
In this clip, it seems like they are striving for something more historically accurate looking. As in old. But it looks more like an opium pipe to me. I doubt Holmes would smoke something like that. The books mention a well smoked (hence the description as black) clay pipe. He also smokes cigars and Egyptian cigarettes. I'd imagine he'd otherwise use period English brand pipes.

 

wesquire

Lurker

Jul 29, 2015

48

167

USA

• Aug 4, 2015

• #8

He also smoked briar in the short stories. Everyone forgets that.

 

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bigpond

Lifer

Oct 14, 2014

2,019

13

• Aug 4, 2015

• #9

Pretty certain that was a butplugg stem attached to a thimble bowl painted black and attached with crazy glue. I would say Downie should be ashamed for taking part in a something like that but...well, you know...

 

xrundog

Part of the Furniture Now

Oct 23, 2014

737

1

Ames, IA

• Aug 4, 2015

• #10

He also smoked briar in the short stories. Everyone forgets that.

Click to expand...

Right. But I don't remember a specific brand or style being mentioned.

 

okiescout

Lifer

Jan 27, 2013

1,530

6

• Aug 5, 2015

• #11

I believe in the 1st Film the pipe Robert Downing Jr. smokes is a small curved stemmed Dublin.

 

D

drfrankenstein56

Lurker

Jul 21, 2015

41

0

• Aug 5, 2015

• #12

I would argue that pipe is even wood.
Ive seen many many pipes of this status and they are all metal. turned on lathes and used for pot. go to a head shop, you can probably find the exact piece.

 

calabashed

Starting to Get Obsessed

May 10, 2015

160

4

• Aug 5, 2015

• #13

Regarding his briar in the short stories, I'm currently in the process of reading the whole cannon. Up to the "Last Bow" collection of stories now and so far there's been nothing more specific than "his old briar root pipe". There's also his grubby black clay and a mention of a long stemmed rosewood pipe.