HARNESS HOOK

A complete cast copper alloy, swivelling harness hook or fitting, of Medieval dating (13th to 15th Centuries AD).

The hook consists of a domed (conical) terminal knop with a rounded top and a flattened base. Beneath the base of the knop is an integral hook, with a square shaped section throughout its length. It is flat on the inner face. The tip terminated in a blunt point.

The hook is mid to dark green in colour, with an even surface patina.

It measures 28.31mm in length, 7.48mm wide (maximum - diameter of knop), 3.55mm wide (integral hook), 4.08mm thick (hook) and 18.15mm deep. It weighs 5.0 grams.

Several similar fittings have been recorded on the PAS database, including SOM-23D494, NMS-2D1545, SF-828FB7, IOW-3c46c7 and IOW-14E414. These have been identified as swivelling harness hooks / fittings as they are similar to those published by Read (1995, 67-68, #362-364. However another similar hook, made from iron, with conical knop was present in a suspension chain belonging to a copper alloy cooking vessel (Egan, 1998, 179, #499). It is probable that this style of hook was multifunctional, serving a variety of purposes. All examples are though of Medieval dating (13th to 15th Centuries AD).

Reference:
Egan, G. 1998a The Medieval Household Daily Living c. 1150-c. 1450. Museum of London. Medieval Finds from Excavations in London.
Egan, G. 1998b. Miscellaneous household equipment: Kitchen and tableware, storage and other vessels, urinals. In Egan, G. 1998a
Read, B. 1995. History Beneath Our Feet. Anglia Publishing. Ipswich.