IN their annual look back to activities in 1995, Woodwards of Cork report an excellent year, which, they say, was much better than the previous one.

They marked the year with two special auctions devoted to Irish and English silver, at which Irish provincial silver was part sought after, and both sales, say, were "highly successful."

According to Tom Woodward, the adage that the only place to sell Cork silver is in Cork was proven time and again. Prices of £4,000 for a local pear shaped coffee pot by John Nicholson, dating from about 1775, and another somewhat similar pot by John Humphreys of Cork, dating from about 1780 and which sold for £3,200, tended to underline the point.

Other good prices for provincial silver were £2,000 for a pair of Cork salvers by William Reynolds (c1770); a similar price for a Cork bright cut teapot by Samuel Green (c1800); and £1,700 for a pair of Cork goblets by Carden Terry and Jane Williams (c1800). Many other Cork and provincial lots sold very well, showing that there is a very strong demand for this type of silver.

However, Dublin silver also did very well at Woodwards during the year, with a pair of Georgian loving cups selling for £1,600.

The saleroom also had a busy year in the furniture field, although Tom Woodward commented that the main selling point was the condition of the pieces, with those in good repair selling much better than those needing restoration.

Plans for this year include a repeat of last year's two specialist silver sales.