A Victorian sterling silver hip or spirit flask, Birmingham 1891, makers mark obscured

Of plain rectangular form, with a bayonet hinged cap. The front engraved with initials in cypher JGMB in gothic script. Fully marked to front and part-marked to reverse. Together with an early 20^th century silver plated (EPNS) small figure of a lady in a shawl with her arms crossed behind her back. (2)

Hipflask – 10.5 cm / 4 inches

Hip flask weight – 79 grams / 2.51 ozt

Figure height – 10.7 cm / 4.15 inches

The initials are for Massy – Beresford

For John George Beresford Massy-Beresford (1856-1923) the son of Very Rev. John Maunsell Massy-Beresford (1823-1886) and Emily Sarah Beresford (d.1893) the daughter of Reverend John Isaac Beresford (1796-1847). He married Hon. Alice Elizabeth Mulholland, daughter of John Mulholland, 1st Baron Dunleath of Ballywalter (1819-1895) and Frances Louisa Lyle (d.1909), on 22^nd November 1892. He gained the rank of Captain between 1880 and 1887 in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry. He held the office of High Sheriff in 1900, Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of County Fermanagh and held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Peebles-shire. Thence by descent