I want to invest in a sterling tea set. Am leaning towards Gorham’s Plymouth pattern since it’s ubiquitous in my area and therefore can be found relatively inexpensively.
My question is whether the handles made of sterling (which I see is reinforced, I suppose with rods and concrete like candle sticks?) or the handles made of ebony/wood are a better investment. Are the sterling handles thicker “hollow ware” than your typical reinforced candle holder? Do the sterling handles hold up over time? I would be buying a vintage set and don’t want to deal with having it repaired anytime soon.