The article concerns the dating of a medallion from the collections of the Kórnik Library. The medallion is interesting both in view of its author (David d’Argers was one of the most eminent French sculptors), and the person portrayed by it (Klaudyna Potocka née Działyńska was among the most famous Polish women of the Romanticism). Castings of the medallion are kept in several Polish museums. In all of their catalogues, the castings are dated to 1831. However, both the biographic data and Potocka’s correspondence clearly indicate that they should be dated to 1834, which is the focus of what I have attempted to demonstrate.

Wojciech Biberstein-Kazimirski is a fascinating, non-typical scientist, who has nevertheless been forgotten by Polish historiography. Count Tytus Działyński immediately saw great potential in him and generously funded his studies. The trust of the Działyński family was passed on from father to son and Jan Działyński also supported the work of Kazimirski, who was certainly the greatest Polish orientalist. Kazimirski was an active patriot of the Polish insurrection. He took refuge in France where he made a respectable career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the 19th century. He was awarded French citizenship and made an officer of la Légion d’honneur. He distinguished himself as a remarkable linguist and published works in a dozen languages, including the most famous French translation of the Qu’ran of all time and his French-Arabic dictionary, which are still considered among the best today. He was also an expert in oriental manuscripts. He was appreciated by the two Czartoryski princes, and the two Shahs of Iran of his time. Aft er his death, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs erected a beautiful bust on his tomb that can still be admired. However, despite all this, there is not a single accurate biography about him. On the contrary, most notices and articles do not even get the most basic things right about him, such as his name, his origin, or his religion.