Any ideas please? It’s my first find that doesn’t say EP so I’m feeling hopeful! Many thanks.
Still no jackpot I’m afraid. Conventionally BP is understood to signify Britannia Plate; i.e. electroplated Britannia metal (where Britannia metal is a white base metal alloy similar to nickel silver or pewter). “Benares” silver is the proprietary name adopted by the manufacturer, John Round & Son of Sheffield, for their version of the alloy. It dates from before about 1895 as the use of a crown on non-silver items was outlawed at about that time.
Phil
Thanks very much for the detailed information. I’m impressed by the age!