Iron pot hanger

Iron pot hanger. Total length 61cm., but one ring corroded up and original length when hanging somewhat more. It consists of a hook for attaching the hanger to a beam over the hearth, a length of chain attached to this by a ring, and two suspension hooks attached to the bottom of the chain by another ring, one small, the other long: these attached pots, cauldrons or even pieces of meat over the cooking hearth. The upper hook has a twisted shank on small rounded hook, and a lower loop through which is threaded a ring (now broken and fixed upright by corrosion). Suspended from this ring was a chain consisting of four large figures of eight links, from the bottom one of which depends another iron ring. Two pot hooks hang on the ring: a large one with twisted shank and a large hook, very open, suitable for suspending a cauldron over the fire. The smaller hook is plain but its hook terminal is also rather open, and may have served to attach either a small bowl above or inside the mouth of the large one, or else something like a piece of meat.Cf. Evison, Holborough for refs. to other egs.