I have a part-time job at a weird and wonderful store called Everything Surplus. The other day, we got in a bazillion of these things, and none of us can figure out what the heck they are. The round part is about 2.5" in diameter. The tab/handle/hook is about 3/4" wide. There is nothing on the back of the circular part that would indicate that it is to be hung on a wall.
Do you still have the box or boxes they came in? There might be some helpful information on them. Even if it’s just the name of the manufacturer or distributor we might be able to learn something from their website (if they have one).
If it was a hook, I’d expect the circular plate to be above the hook, not below it. Perhaps this was a manufacturing defect, and that’s why they’re surplus?
It’s not very well designed as a hook, either. At the very least I’d have rounded off the corners of the hook so it didn’t snag the fabric of whatever was hooked on it.
My first thought is that it’s some sort of tabletop catapult; put something on the round part, then slap the handle down and send it flying across the room. Hours of fun for the whole family! Try selling them in pairs with a bag of marbles.
How is the handle/hook attached? Is it just glued on? If so, it wouldn’t be strong enough to use as a hook or handle supporting anything with any weight to it.
It seems unlikely to me that it was designed to carry anything (or if so, it was poorly designed). Nothing prevents things from sliding off the edge. And carrying a drink on that thing would require a lot of dexterity.