16th–17th Century Copper Belt Hook Culture / Period: 16th - 17th century Date / Period: 16th - 17th century Material: Copper Dimensions: 31 × 23 mm Condition: Good condition No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid. Provenance information: Object Registration ID: 838 The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the Belt hook from P.P. in Baarland, the Netherlands. The previous owner, P.P. from Baarland (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990's. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990's. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner. Background Information: This cast copper belt hook dates to the 16th–17th century and was intended as a functional fitting for suspension from a belt or girdle. Such hooks enabled the wearer to carry everyday objects including knives, purses, keys, tools, and small personal accessories, making them an essential component of Early Modern dress. The openwork front is decorated with a stylised fleur-de-lis motif, a decorative design widely employed throughout Europe during the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods. Besides its ornamental appeal, the fleur-de-lis was associated with ideas of nobility, heraldry, purity, and craftsmanship, making it a popular motif on dress fittings and personal equipment. The hook was cast as a single piece and fitted with attachment points for securing it to a leather belt. Objects of this type were produced by specialised founders and supplied to both urban and rural communities, reflecting the growing standardisation of personal dress accessories during the 16th and 17th centuries. Complete belt hooks with their decorative openwork preserved are becoming increasingly difficult to encounter, as many surviving examples have lost their hooks or attachment fittings through prolonged use. This example remains an attractive and well-preserved illustration of an everyday object that combined practicality with decorative craftsmanship. It forms a tangible connection to the daily life of the Early Modern period, when carefully crafted belt fittings such as this were worn as functional accessories and visible elements of personal attire."