Welcome toThe Rothschild Archive'swebsite

Sources for business history: plans of New Court

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

Chinese porcelain

Anthony de Rothschild (1887-1961) built up a very unusual collection of Chinese porcelain, mostly consisting of Ming (1386-1644) and K'ang Hsi (1662-1722) wares. The so-called 'san ts'ai' (three colour) wares of the late Ming Dynasty in the collection is outstanding in Britain.

Anthony housed the collection at Ascott, keeping some items in glass vitrines, while others were used to decorate the rooms where they were set against the French and English 18th-century furniture and sumptuous Persian carpets.

The collection included some fine examples of vases and wine jars decorated in the cloisonné style with designs outlined in threads of clay and filled in with coloured glazes to represent scenes of gods and landscapes. A pair of egg-shell porcelain lanterns painted in delicate famille verte enamels with gilding were lent as contributions to the Burlington House Chinese Exhibition of 1935.

In addition to the figures and vessels in pottery, stoneware and porcelain, there were also gods in jade, hard stones and glass, including the jade figure of Shao Lao (God of Longevity) with his stork, and Hsi Wang Mu, the Juno of Taoist lore, with a peacock on a rock.

Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1887-1961).

Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1887-1961).

The Porcelain Room at Ascott.

The Porcelain Room at Ascott.