File:Medieval belt loop; strap loop with zoomorphic head terminal (FindID 253051).jpg

English: Medieval strap loop; cast copper alloy belt hook fitting of probable 13th or 14th century date. The hook is formed from a strip of copper alloy of roughly lozenge-shaped cross section. The strip is expanded and split at one end to form a long, narrow, rectangular loop. It is then curved round on itself forming approximately three quarters of a circle. The strip then bends up into a vertical section before bending back on itself again at a perpendicular angle. Much of the hook is undecorated but the very top section has the form of a zoomorphic head with moulded knops for ears at the back and a moulded split snout giving upper lip, tongue and lower lip. The top of the snout has six incised chevrons running along its length and the ears each have an incised line running along their length too. The back of the circular loop has an attached flat shield with a cross incised into it.

These belt hook fittings are a known form. The strap would presumably have passed through the rectangular loop and the fitting would then have hung next to the belt, allowing something to be suspended from it, possibly a dagger or a purse. The shape of the fitting means that the suspended item would be easily accessible but would be unlikely to fall from the hook unintentionally.

Height 62.6mm, width (strip) 6.8mm, width (shield) 9.9mm, depth (span from shield to back of rectangular loop) 31.6mm, thickness (strip at maximum – base of circular loop) 5.9mm, weight 28.11g

Ref: Read ‘Hooked-Clasps and Eyes’ (pp. 214-215, nos. 771-773)