1. What is it called?
It's a forcola.
2. What is it used for?
In a nutshell, it is an oarlock for a gondola.
3. If I wanted one, where would I go to get one?
Venice, Italy would be about the best place.
4. Each one is custom made for it's owner. The maker would first measure my what?
They'd need to know your height since that influences the angle of the oar in the water. And they might want to know a bit about your gondola. And if you are a rich American tourist, they'd want a look at your wallet.
The forcola in this image is a bit curly-er than the one above. But then, no two are alike, for her particular gondola and her hight she has what she needs.
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