This building was commissioned in 1919 by Zainab Hanem the wife of Prince Aly Haidar a prominent scientist and poet. She did not live to see it completed but her daughter Princess Al-Nabila Fatma saw it though to completion in 1923. It was finished according to the highest European standards with imported Italian granite for some of the floors. The parquet floors were make with the finest woods and the interior hallway had 10 mosaic glass doors made by a Florentine artist. It was used as a summer house by Princess Al-Nabila Fatma who was part of the Royal family and the great great great granddaughter of Muhammad Ali Pasha, founder of the Royal family of Egypt that ruled for 150 years. After the 1952 revolution, the princess was allowed to reside in the palace but was not allowed to sell anything that was inside it. She eventually ceded the building and contents to the Government of Egypt in 1964. The jewelry of the Royal family was secured in 1952 and kept unseen until 1986 when it was placed on display in this building.
The gate could use a good scrubbing
A very grand entrance indeed
Rococo designs
Giant chandeliers
A hybrid kind of stained glass. There is colores glass that is also painted
Looking down thru the long hallway
Exotic Birds
Brightly colored lamp fixtures
Cherubs
The windows told a story of a European couple
They are courting
Here the painting on the colored glass can be seen clearly
The panels cumulate in the wedding of the couple
Above the windows are metal shutters that can unroll
Oil paintings on the ceilings
Floral motifs
Cut glass sconces
Natural scenes
So much detail on the ceiling
Roses and leaves
The Royal Family had only 11 leaders in the 150 years
Not for a simple undecorated area
The faces are a bit disconcerting
Great tile work
Eurasian magpies
Let the horns sound
Greek mythology on the wall
Very deep dark wood
One of a dozen different parquet floor designs
Exotic peacock
Smoochie doves
More cherubs
The roaring 20's were not so prudish as I would have thought
In the female bathroom fantastic tile work
A shower, a tub and possibly a foot bath
A bidet, toilet and another large basin
The ceiling of the bathroom
Fan mosaic flooring
A beach scene was a bit more modest
Some nymphs
A nod to the royal family
A ceramic chandelier that did not seem appropriate for the elaborate surroundings
The men's bathroom was unlit and this window was visible only in reflection
Foxes in the tile
We are heading back down to the first floor
More stained glass in the hallway
More parquet floors
Great designs
We were required to wear shoe covers
These shutters are rolled down
The gates to the driveway
Looking back at the building
So very exquisite
Even the fence was fancy
