Hello good and knowledgeable folk! I’m currently completely stumped as to whether this is possibly early EP or 20th Century Reproduction? It’s a large (16.5”), heavy, deep dish serving tray with a grape/vine border and uniquely combined with heavy repousse inner border. Looks to be very good quality, thick silver plating and I can’t find anything else like it online?
What’s got me really curious is that the underside shows it’s silver plate, over a thin copper layer, with what appears to be a heavy steel base? I’ve never come across this production method before… it’s usually EP on copper, or nickel or copper over a brass base… but never EP on copper on steel?
Does anyone know if this is an early EP technique or a much later Reproduction cheat… I sure would love some wise words of wisdom or any thoughts would be much appreciated!
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Hi Simon! I tried searching, but even Google image search didn’t yield any results… 
Thanks for looking… so have you ever come across EP on copper on steel… ‘cause I haven’t?? What’s your educated hunch… 
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I cannot read your item’s marks but it is definitely not Old Sheffield Plate.
Putting a thin layer of copper on a steel or brass base allowed the final coat of electro-plated silver to be applied on a smoother surface obviating the need for double silver electroplating.
To put it simply, it was cheaper to have a layer of copper plating then silver on top than two or even three layers of silver electroplate.
The grape design is lovely and probably American.
CRWW
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Thank you for your insights…always much appreciated!
There’s no makers marks, only a 3 digit stamp (presumably a pattern#?). With the advances of the electroplating process, such as EPNS, would the lack of makers mark, the silver/copper/steel?tin? process and general high quality, plus 2-2.5mm thickness, indicate an earlier Victorian production??
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Not necessarily.
To date your item it is perhaps best to start by looking at what it is and when such dishes were in vogue. Perhaps early to middle of second quarter 20th century.
CRWW
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