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Description
62. 62R Two Qajar steel peacocks
Persia, 19th Century
each standing upright with open beaks and detachable tails erect on a square base, profusely decorated in silver overlay, the tails with laplets containing foliate interlace with vegetal medallions to base and tips, naturalistic feather details to body with inscription-filled roundels to breasts
51 cm. high(2)
Provenance
Acquired by Baron Leon Rolin 'The Lion of Cairo' (1871-1950) or his daughter, Jacqueline Rolin (1902-1975) and thence by descent.
Inscriptions: 'Sultan Shah 'Abbas'
Leon Rolin (1871-1950), nicknamed 'The Lion of Cairo', was the owner of contracting firm Leon Rolin & Co, one of the two largest civil contractors in Egypt. The firm was charged with construction of the Heliopolis Palace Hotel, later the presidential palace of the Mubarak administration.
The Heliopolis Palace Hotel was an ambitious project, built in the open desert between 1908-1910, and opening as Africa's most luxurious hotel on December 1st 1910. During the construction and inspired by their surroundings, his wife, Madeleine Shaar (1876-1954) started a collection of Islamic art. His daughter Jacqueline continued to avidly collect and was present at the auction of the contents of the Royal Palace of King Farouk. She later returned to Belgium and distributed her rich collection amongst her children and their descendants.
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