The surprising thing about some very old silver is just how modern it can look. James Adam's forthcoming silver sale on October 1st has some striking examples: a beautifully simple Cork silver bowl made by Carden Terry in 1800 (£5,000-£8,000), and a pair of heavy silver communion cups that look distinctly 1970s Kilkenny Design but in fact were made in Dublin in 1706 (£2,000-£3,000). One of the most expensive lots in this very good sale is another simple but lovely Cork piece - a George III boat-shaped bread basket made by John Williams in Cork in 1795. It carries a top estimate of £10,000. Another valuable lot is a set of 12 George II Dublin silver soup plates, made in 1730, which resided for decades under its owner's floorboards. It should make between £5,000 and £8,000. Over 200 lots will be auctioned, with most of the Cork silver coming from a single collection. Lower down the price bracket are dozens of interesting lots, including jugs and ladles, serving spoons and forks; tea spoons and coffee spoons and even tiny quail spoons; real and costume jewellery and candlesticks of all sizes and weights.