2023

The Royal Jewelry Museum is a museum that displays the jewelry of the royal families that ruled Egypt, located in the city of Alexandria. The palace was built in 1919 in the Zizinia area and is an architectural masterpiece, with an area of 4185 square meters It was owned by Princess Fatima Al-Zahra, one of the Princesses of the royal family. It was designed according to the style of European buildings in the nineteenth century and the interior of the palace was decorated with distinctive artistic units.

Turned into a museum of royal jewelry in 1986, the museum houses a large collection of jewelry and gold artifacts belonging to the Alawite royal family dating back to 1805, including rare artifacts ranging from Muhammad Ali Pasha to Farouk I. This jewelry was confiscated in July 1952. It was registered as a museum in 1999. Currently, the museum has 11,500 pieces.

The building of the Royal Jewelry Museum,

The "jewelry museum".. Or, as it is called, the" jewelry Palace " due to its presence in the building that was the palace of one of the Princesses of the Royal Alawite family in Egypt, as we will see. This museum or palace is located in the Zizinia area of Alexandria. And directly next to the residence of the governor of Alexandria in an area that enjoys tranquility and sophistication, which corresponds to a jewelry museum. The museum has four borders, namely. From the South is Ahmed Yahya Street. To the North is Abdul Salam Arif Street. And from the East is the artist Ahmed Osman Street. To the West is the governor's residence.

History of the palace,

The royal jewelry museum is located in the building of the Fatima Zahra Palace (Princess Fatima Haider) in Glim. This palace was founded by Zeinab Hanem Fahmy in 1919 and completed by her daughter Princess Fatima Al-Zahra in 1923. Princess Fatima Al-Zahra, whose name the palace bears, is one of the Princesses of the Alawite family and was born in 1903. Her mother is Mrs. Zeinab Fahmy. Sister of the architect Ali Fahmy – who participated in the design of this palace. Her father is Prince Ali Haider Bin Amir Ahmed Rushdi bin Prince Mustafa Bahg at bin Fadel Pasha bin Ibrahim Pasha bin Mohammed Ali Pasha, the governor of Egypt and the originator of its modern renaissance, that is, Mohammed Ali is her fifth grandfather.

Princess Fatima Al-Zahra's mother had completed the construction of the West Wing before her death and her daughter was eighteen years old.. Princess Fatima Al-Zahra has added an eastern wing to the palace and connected the two wings with a corridor. This palace was used as a summer residence until the July 1952 movement. When the Princess's property was confiscated, she was allowed to stay in the palace. Princess Fatima died in 1983.

The palace was used as a presidential residence until it was turned into a museum by a Republican decision in 1986. This Palace (Museum of Royal Jewelry) was built in the style of European buildings in architectural terms. It consists of two pavilions. East and West. A transverse passage connects them... Both the East Wing and the West Wing consist of two floors and a basement. The building is also surrounded by a garden, which is filled with plants, flowers, and ornamental trees.

Restoration and development of the museum was carried out in 1986 and 1994. In late 2004, the Supreme Council of Antiquities began a comprehensive development and restoration of the museum at an estimated cost of EGP 10 million to increase its capacity to accommodate more precious exhibits that are in storage and have not yet been displayed, and the museum was opened in April 2009.

Contents of the museum,

The museum includes a collection of the finest and most beautiful royal jewelry, which was worn and decorated by members of the Alawite royal family in Egypt, including the jewelry of King Fouad, King Farouk, and his wives, princes, and princesses from the royal family. It is therefore known as the Royal Jewelry Museum. The museum includes 11,500 items belonging to members of the royal family. The palace has been divided into ten halls containing collections of antiques and jewelry belonging to members of the Muhammad Ali family, the most important of which are:

A set belonging to the founder of the Alawite family, "Muhammad Ali", including a box of gold camouflaged with enamel with the name "Muhammad Ali"on it
Prince Mohammed Ali Tawfik's collection, includes 12 platinum and Gold Cup envelopes, about 2753 Brent and Flemish diamonds, and a gold money case studded with diamonds. In addition to a pocket watch especially for Ottoman sultans.
And from the era of the Khedive said Pasha there is a collection of gold scarves and watches. Egyptian, Turkish, and foreign decorations and necklaces are encrusted with jewelry and gold. And about four thousand various archaeological coins. A set belonging to the founder of the Alawite family, Muhammad Ali, includes a box of gold, camouflaged with enamel, with his name "Muhammad Ali"on it.
Gold watches and colorful enamel portraits of Khedive Ismail and Khedive Tawfik.
King Fouad's antiques and jewelry collection and the most important:
Gold handle with diamonds.
Gold medals and two medals with his portrait on them.
A platinum tiara inlaid with diamonds and brilliant for his wife, Princess Shwekar.
The most important of the Queen Nazli jewelry collection is a gold trinket set with brilliant diamonds.
The collection of antiques and jewelry of King Farouk and Queen Nazli, the most important of which are:
Gold camouflage chess with colored enamel studded with diamonds.
A gold tray with the signature "110 pashwat".
Marshal's baton of Ebony and gold.
A garnet dish dedicated by the Tsar of Russia.
The collection of Queen Farida, the first wife of King Farouk, includes the most important pieces:
The Queen's platinum Crown is encrusted with brilliant diamonds and her crown is encrusted with brilliant diamonds.
Brooches released from gold and platinum studded with brilliant and Flemish diamonds.
The collection of Queen Nariman, the second wife of King Farouk, includes the most important pieces:
Commemorative medals, necklaces, and medals.
Two rulers and a piece of gold were used to lay the foundation stone for the projects.
Collections of princesses Fawzia Ahmed Fouad and Faiza Ahmed Fouad: "a set of bracelets, tuxedos, and chest pins, the most important of which are:
A platinum diamond-encrusted token with the name "Fawzia" on it.
A gold necklace with brilliant diamonds and pearls is a "winner".
The group of princesses Samiha and Qadriya Hussein Kamel:
A set of gold pocket watches inlaid with brilliant and Flemish diamonds and a gold bracelet inlaid with brilliant and Flemish diamonds and pearls.
The collection of princes Youssef Kamal and Mohammed Ali Tawfik: includes many antiques, jewelry, decorations, necklaces, and engravers, in addition to other collections of jewelry that the museum presentation dealt with in an interesting style and used lighting that relies on direct light guidance of the displayed pieces without affecting them or being influenced by the viewer. the display cabinets were provided with explanatory cards in Arabic and English.
This museum is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Alexandria, where it houses a rare and wonderful collection of antiques, jewelry, ornaments, gold works, precious stones, and watches inlaid with gemstones and diamonds. The jewelry Palace opens its doors to Egyptians and foreign guests, and the entrance prices for Egyptians are very cheap, encouraging them to visit this important museum and get to know what it contains wonderful collectibles and jewelry, perhaps there is no such thing in the world.