**Bug introduced in 7.0 or earlier and persisting through 10.0.2 or later**

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I have run into another problem with `Grid` today.  
An explicitly specified `ItemSize` is being ignored:

    dot = Graphics[{Pink, Disk[]}, ImageSize -> 40];
    
    tab = {{"Type", "Name", \[SpanFromLeft], \[SpanFromLeft], 
        Item[dot, ItemSize -> 2.7], 
        Item["Esculap", 
         Alignment -> 
          Left], \[SpanFromLeft], \[SpanFromLeft]}, {\[SpanFromAbove], 
        "Dia.", "Spec", \[SpanFromLeft], \[SpanFromAbove], 
        Item[8.3 "mm", ItemSize -> {3.5, 2.7}, Alignment -> Right], 
        Item[11, Alignment -> Right], "6.3"}, {Item[dot, ItemSize -> 2.7],
         Item["Flycatcher", 
         Alignment -> Left], \[SpanFromLeft], \[SpanFromLeft], 
        Item[dot, ItemSize -> 2.7], 
        Item["Apus", 
         Alignment -> 
          Left], \[SpanFromLeft], \[SpanFromLeft]}, {\[SpanFromAbove], 
        Item[6.9 "mm", ItemSize -> {3.5, 2.7}, Alignment -> Right], 
        Item[17, Alignment -> Right], "9.8", \[SpanFromAbove], 
        Item[7.8 "mm", ItemSize -> {3.5, 2.7}, Alignment -> Right], 
        Item[8, Alignment -> Right], "6.7"}};
    
    Grid[tab,
     Spacings -> {Automatic, {{0, -1.1}}},
     Alignment -> {Center, Center},
     Dividers -> All
    ]

![Mathematica graphics](https://i.sstatic.net/ywAOm.png)

Please note `Item[8.3 "mm", ItemSize -> {3.5, 2.7}, Alignment -> Right]` where a vertical ItemSize is explicitly specified, yet it is ignored in the layout.

If the "Spec" cell is not spanned this does not happen:

    tab[[2, 4]] = "X";
    
    Grid[tab,
     Spacings -> {Automatic, {{0, -1.1}}},
     Alignment -> {Center, Center},
     Dividers -> All
    ]

![Mathematica graphics](https://i.sstatic.net/7c2kT.png)

- Is this another bug in `Grid`?

- Is it still present in version 8?

- How can I best work around it?