Two weights from the Basle 'Fronwaage',

Description

When on 12 March 1373 the bishop accorded the town the right to levy tolls and to control the 'Fronwaage' (weighing scales), the mint and the office of local mayor, the citizenry acquired much more power. It was a milestone in Basle's development towards independence. The council immediately built a 'Kaufhaus' which served as a warehouse and customs office. Since the right to exact customs is linked with the control of weights and measures - goods have to be counted, measured and weighed before customs duty can be charged on them - the council installed the so called 'Fronwaage' in the 'Kaufhaus'. For centuries imported goods had first to be taken to the 'Kaufhaus' and placed on the 'Fronwaage' so that the 'Pfundzoll' (import duty) could be levied on them. Two weights dating from 1781 have been preserved. The Basle coat of arms in a laurel wreath indicates that the city was responsible for the laws relating to weights and measures. The letters F W stand for 'Fronwaage'. The weights weigh 49.28 kg and 24.64 kg respectively, so are based on the pound weight which for these scales was set at 493.24 g.