A rare French iron `mesure a dîme' 14th/15th century

Comparative Literature:
Alain Erlande-Brandenburg, Pierre-Yves le Pogam, Dany Sandron, Musée du Moyen Age-Thermes de Cluny, Paris, p. 45, no. 37, for an 13th century `mesure a dîme', (Acq., 1864;Cl. 7719). The origins of this object relate to the taxation that farmers had to pay in the Middle Ages. The `dime' corresponded to a tenth of the crop output and later to a variable proportion that was paid which was usually destined for the Church, although sometimes the payment was also made to the Seigneur. Thus the `mesure' was needed to be correctly calibrated to accurately measure the correct quantity of cereals.