PHOTO GALLERY: Inside look at Egypt's Royal Jewelry Museum in Alexandria - Multimedia - Ahram Online
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PHOTO GALLERY: Inside look at Egypt's Royal Jewelry Museum in Alexandria




The Royal Jewelry Museum that was once owned by Noble Fatma Heidar is already a unique luxurious example of European art and architectural style on two floors and a basement.

One of the most famous items in the Museum is the Platinum tiara inlaid with 2159 diamonds and 11 pearls beads as her diamonds earning. Once owned by Princess Shivakiar, the first and ex-wife of King Fouad I.

The Platinum and gold diadem in floral design inlaid with 1506 diamonds. The floral diadem is part of Queen Farida, the ex-wife of King Farouk I.

The Order of Virtues, Egypt's Female order of knighthood and award for merit inlaid with diamonds. Founded in 1915, it is still among Egypt's among orders. Among its recipients in addition to the princess and queens of the Mohamed Ali Royal Family: Queen Elizabeth II of UK "1948", Queen Sofia of Spain , Princess Diana of Wales "1981" and Queen Noor of Jordan "1989"

The Palace hosting the Royal Jewelry is also European Piece of art. Many of its ceilings include oil paintings depicting Greek and Roman myths. Its painted colored glassed windows also depicting scenes from European renaissance era.

A necklace inlaid with pearls and Carnelian gemstones from the collection of Queen Nariman, the former wife of King Farouk I.

A diamond hair piece with the name of Princess Fawzia, the sister of King Farouk I and the former Queen of Iran. The hair piece is from her collection in the museum.

An ivory elephant inlaid with gold, pearls and Sapphire from Prince Youssef Kamal, the famous explorer and arts collector.

The gold desk set inlaid with 166 diamonds from Prince Youssef Kamal's collection.

King Farouk I's golden chess set, a present from former Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to his brother-in-law, the King of Egypt in 1930s after his marriage from Farouk's sister, Princess Fawzia.

The Royal Jewelry Museum is located in the upscale Zizinia area of Alexandria governorate. Prior to 1952, the Museum was a palace owned by Fama El-Heidar, the daughter of wealthy socialite Zeinab Fahmy and Prince Ali Heidar, the grandson of Mohamed Pasha, the founder of Mohamed Ali's royal family.

In 1986, the Fatma El-Zahraa's 4185 square metre palace and included garden was turned in to a museum housing a collection of jewelry owned by Mohamed Ali's royal family that ruled Egypt from 1804 to 1953.

The museum currently hosts 11,500 items.

All photos by Zeinab El-Gundy

 
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