Some sort of hook-holder-hanger-barn-do-dad

[Mac53]

Any guesses? I'm at a complete loss.

It has a ledge build in right under the screw plate on each side... So surely it mounted to something there...

[BruceS]

I have seen much more elaborate ones  that were in a very posh for its time (early 1900's)   horse barn tac room.  They were harness hangers as far as I know.

[amertrac]

when I was young we had them in the horse barn usually two close together for one set of harness .
but that may not what they were made for originally.  bob w.

[rusty]

That is one of the difficulties identifying old metal objects in barns. Farmers were very frugal, if a bracket broke off the carrage, it was likely to be screwed to the wall as a coat hook...

[rudeawakening55]

  I have to agree with Rusty.......I also think it is just a make shift piece of cast, as the J part isn't deep enought for harness. Only would hold bridles or halters. The small cast peg just above the J in cast makes one think there was a cross piece that went there.  Just another good what is it item.

[Stoney]

I agree with Rudeawakening55.  I doubt that it was designed as a harness hook.  That said most anything could be used to hold harness/tack.  We used large nails for our tack.  Even that small hook could hold pony harness or maybe even buggy harness.