Hi Adam - I'm really only guessing, but I would suggest that the flared hoops are simply echoing their shape at the bottom, i.e. where they stand - gives an artistic sort of flair perhaps. Difficult to date accurately, but you might look to see if there are any marks on the metalwork........although even if there are, they might only show the bog standard 'E.P.N.S.' mark. Being flared, you cud use these hoops to hold the object and pass around the table. Electro plating does in fact go back a long way, much further than you might think, but if pushed I'd go for something like either before the deco period ....as you suggest, perhaps Edwardian or, going in the other direction maybe post 1940. The design doesn't shout deco to me. Sugars do usually have lids, I take it you don't have an accompanying lid.
