i66 THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 



Walton's Old Oak Cabinet or Hanging 

 Cupboard 



This cabinet, so touchingly referred to in Izaak 

 Walton's Will, is now in the possession of Mr. 

 Elkin Mathews, the well-known bibliographer 

 of Vigo Street. " Being at Bath," says Mr. 

 Mathews, "in the spring of 1881 . . . I learnt 

 that on April 28, 1881, a well-known firm of 

 auctioneers were to sell ' a fine collection of 

 old oak and antique furniture,' and that the 

 Cabinet was one of the lots. It was thus 

 described — 



' 39. Very interesting relic of the Angler 

 Walton, a suspending wall cabinet with cup- 

 board and drawer secretly fastened ; the door 

 is sunk and inlaid with fine marqueterie ; 

 above, his name, Izaak Walton ; and below, 

 date 1672 ; all the twelve pannels are richly 

 carved in floral designs. From the old 

 Deanery at Winchester.' 



After some competition the cupboard was knocked 

 down to me, much to my satisfaction and peace 

 of mind, for sweet was the feeling of possession." 



