This is a very elegant Georgian silver caddy spoon with engravings of flowers and foliage. It was made by the Henry Day in 1821. He first worked for his father, George Day, before entering his first mark as a gold worker and spoon maker in 1817. Although he was a gifted and appreciated silversmith, his career was quite short, until 1822. As such, it may well be that the spoon on sale is very rare.
 
Henry Day was sentenced to death on the 23rd of October 1822, at the age of 29, for forgery, for applying counterfeit marks to some gravy spoons and soup ladles. Fifteen silversmiths and colleagues gave the prisoner a good character. Because the prosecution was carried by the Commissioners of Stamps, it may well be that the charges relate solely to the loss of revenue to the Crown. He was released in 1927 from Newgate gaol, after being given a full pardon by George IV with the support of Lord Palmerston and the Marquis of Lansdowne. Exhausted by the efforts put towards his son's release, George Day died on 26th September 1827, shorty before Henry's release. His young wife also died from stress shortly before his release, leaving behind three young children. 
 
I would like to thank John Chapple for providing me with biographical information on Henry Day.
 
The silver caddy presents HH for Henry Day, the Lion passant, the London assay mark, and date letter “f” for 1821.