This is only the second example of a gold and platinum cased pocket watch with quarter repeat by Breguet to have passed through these rooms. The first was watch no. 4074 sold to Mademoiselle de Valckiers and was sold as lot 340 on the 21st of October 1995. The certificate dated 1829 for the present lot is an interesting historical document in its own right as it has a list of watchmakers around Europe who could be trusted to repair the watch as well as instructions on its correct use. The Potocki family an important artistocratic family that originated in Potok in the Krakow Voivodship, their family name derives from that place?s name. On May 3rd 1791 Europe?s first republican constitution was adopted, co-authored by brothers Ignacy and Stanislas Potocki. Stanislas was the subject of J.L. David's famous portrait and the owner of an art collection unrivalled in Eastern Europe. Perhaps most eminent of all was his cousin Jan Potocki, traveler, ethnologist, linguist, and legendary author of The Manuscript Found in Saragossa. A philosophical collection of stories within stories, this book, written in French, remains one of the greatest works of the European Enlightenment. François Potocki (1786-1853) The son of Vincent Potocki and Anna Mycielska, he commanded a squadron in Napoleon?s army and was the personal aide of Marshal Davout. In 1831 he was a Major in the Polish insurrectional army; he was also a Senator and President of the then very important "Heroldyi" organization that verified the origins of Polish nobility. Potocki appeared in the 1824 list of those authorized to bear the title of Count in the Kingdom of Poland; his title was confirmed by Russian Emperor Nicholas I on July 16, 1838. The title became extinct upon his death without issue. Potocki?s first wife was Sidonie, Princesse de Ligne (the daughter of Charles, Prince de Ligne, who was also his step-mother?s first husband). His second marriage was to Karolina, Countess of Koffler.