AFTER last Thursday's sale of furniture, paintings, ceramics and glass, Mealy's will be holding another auction next Wednesday, this time concentrating only on silver and silver plate, writes Robert O'Byrne.

With almost 500 lots, this promises to be an important event, particularly since the items on offer include a pair of George I Irish silver mugs, dating from around 1715 and each engraved with the crest of Lord Dudley Sydney Alexander Cosby, known as Lord Sydney of Leix, from Stradbally Hall, Co Laois. These carry an estimate of £600-£800.

Also from Stradbally is a silver gilt cup and cover from 1832, which was presented to Thomas Cosby by King William IV at the Brighton race meeting of the following year; it is expected to make £3,800-£5,200. A pair of Irish footed salvers by David King of Dublin, dating from around 1715 and bearing the armorial and crest of the Cosby family, has an estimate of £1,500-£2,500.

A pair of Irish silver sauceboats, weighing 48 ounces and made by John Letablere of Dublin in about 1740 and each with a helmet shaped body and dolphin handles, should make almost as good a price (estimate £3,000-£5,000). A late George II/early George III Irish silver salver with ornate chased and engraved top carries an estimate of £2,500-£4,000.

A comprehensive 138 piece George III canteen of silver from London (circa 1818) and all matching save for 24 modern knives could make up to £14,000; an ornate silver salver carrying the crest of Daniel O'Connell, dating from 1840, has an estimate of £1,400-£1,600; and a pair of George II cast silver candlesticks from Dublin (circa 1730) carries an estimate of £1,800-£2,500.

A final example of the many special silver pieces in this auction is a pair of early George III silver swine coasters, with wired gallery sides decorated with rams' masks and drapery swags (estimate £1,500-£2,500).