Two young children hide as two adults come into the room where the children have been playing with their precious antiques. Engraving by T.A. Dean after J. Jenkins.

Described in the British Museum onine catalogue as follows: "an elderly man wearing antiquated dress with a tricorn, accompanied by a woman with a lap-dog, entering a room full of curios, including armour hanging on the walls, a stuffed peacock and stork to left and a crucifix and globe to right, looking grimly to right at three giggling girls in Victorian dress while gesturing to left at two children who using a carved chest containing clothes and other antiquarian treasures to hide, having caught them all playing with his precious objects". On the left are some weapons, a steelyard balance in a cupboard, and a crocodile on top of the cupboard. Open on the floor, left, is an illuminated manuscript. Among the antiquities on the right is a crucifix, an amphora and a globe. Many of the antiques are in the style of the 16th century

Interpreted in a poem 'A society of antiquaries' by Letitia E. Landon, in Fisher, loc. cit.: "How many are the fancies / That joyous childhood hath! / It stoops to gather flowers / Where'er may be its path. / And age, too, has its fancies, / As earnest, if less sweet; / It makes but stormy weather / When fancies chance to meet. / It is an ancient chamber, / Where he for years has stored / What years have gone to gather— / The antiquary’s hoard. / It is their grandsire's birthday, / And every child is come / In merriment and secret / To spoil the guarded room. / One trails a mystic garment / That once a mummy wore; / One empties a rich casket / Of coins upon the floor. / In comes the angry grandsire, / His cane is in his hand: / There seems but little terror / 'Mid that detected band. / Methinks a pleasant lesson / Is given by the scene— / That age alike and childhood / Delight in what has been. / They will make, those happy children, / The old man's heart their own— / There never was a pleasure / Could be enjoyed alone."

London ; Paris : Fisher, Son & Co., 1838.

1 print : engraving ; image 16.5 x 23 cm

A society of antiquaries. Drawn by Jenkins. Engraved by T.A. Dean.

Wellcome Collection 29104i