The story? To be honest, we’re not entirely sure. Perhaps a collector who loved Breguet, and who made a fortune running a multinational selling millions of flower bulbs, made a special request. Or perhaps it was simply the artist’s own idea: besides painting, Jacques Potin was drawn to sculpture, and he may have decided to pay tribute to the humble onion with this piece in gilt solid silver. We set out to trace the history of this unique clock, and we would like to thank Emmanuel Breguet for his kind cooperation in sharing the details recorded in the Breguet archives: no. 3636, 19-ligne movement, 8-day, sold on 4 October 1966 to “Schwartz” for 333.33 francs.

The base carries an engraved copyright notice in English rather than French, which suggests the clock was intended for the American market. Next to it is the Mercury head hallmark, a French assay office mark for silver often associated with export, which also points to a piece made in France for sale abroad. The unusual price of 333.33 francs supports this. It is exactly 400 francs minus 20% VAT, which suggests the movement was invoiced without VAT, as is usual for an export sale. Since Jacques Potin had been living and working in the United States since 1964, we believe the clock was most likely made in France, probably in Paris, and then exported to the US.

Another interesting detail: near the top of the sculpture are two more hallmarks, with a small zigzag scratch right next to them. The assay scrape, where the assay office removed a tiny sample to test the silver content before stamping the piece.

We suspect an object like this must be recorded somewhere, but so far we haven’t found it. What we can say with confidence is that this is an extraordinary and, as far as we know, unique Breguet clock.