Cup on Stand
Cup on Stand
This cup has a shallow bowl and a stand, which is supported by a flaring base. The stand has two protruding circular decorations at the top and bottom. The maker’s mark at the base is ‘HECWORTH’ and ‘E.P. <A1> N.S.’. The latter, ‘E.P.N.S.’ stands for ‘electroplated nickel silver’, the copper alloy with nickel and zinc, which is plated with silver, from which the vessel is made, and ‘A1’ refers to its top quality. Hecworth, which was a company based in Melbourne, produced silver plated objects. Such cups could be used for a variety of purposes and at formal occasions, for example, to hold sweets.