53. An Ottoman silver ewer and basin Egypt, early 20th Century the ewer of piriform on a short foot with waisted neck and hinged-domed lid, swan-necked spout and foliate handle, the lid with bud finial, the basin with flaring walls, the strainer decorated in openwork, the ewer and basin engraved with guilloche motifs and vegetal scrollwork, with sah and tughra marks 2623 g. Provenance Acquired by Baron Leon Rolin 'The Lion of Cairo' (1871-1950) or his daughter, Jacqueline Rolin (1902-1975) and thence by descent. 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.