Inside Ascott House

Quan Yin, Goddess of Mercy

This Chinese statue is gilt (gold covered) bronze and dates from the T’ang dysnasty (618 - 907). It depicts Quan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, one of the most beloved of all Buddhist figures.

Her name translates as ‘She who hears the cries of the World’. She hears the prayers of the sick, the lost and the troubled and appears when she is needed the most. She holds a willow sprig to represent her flexibility and resiliance, as well as a vase of pure water to represent cleansing and renewal.

Quan Yin is a Bhodhisattva who delayed her own journey to Nirvana so that she could stay and continue to help those in need. Her care and dedication were so revered during the T’ang period that her facial features were softened to highlight her maternal nature.

The House at Ascott is full of treasures, however, we have pulled together a list of ten outstanding pieces that are not to be missed.  You can print or download the list if it would help you to find them all.

View here

Discover a beloved family home transformed from a humble farmhouse, the ultimate country house escape. As you enter the historic house, turn back to spot 1606 carved into the beam, thought to be the date of the original farmhouse.

Marvel at showpiece artworks, hand-stencilled wallpaper and the magnificent views over Aylesbury Vale from the Hall. The Stubbs painting over the fireplace reflects the Rothschild family’s love of horse racing.

Look out for the impressive trompe l’oeil tiled-effect wallpaper, the striking famille verte Chinese plate depicting the traditional game of pitch-pot and a collection of paintings by celebrated Dutch masters, including Aelbert Cuyp.

Look up to find the many mottoes carved beneath the ceiling in the light-filled common room and admire the tranquil views and paintings, including Rubens ‘Madonna and Child’.

Explore the historic house’s impressive collection of ancient fahua ware, best seen on the wine jars and the large dragon temple vase. A piece in the bay window dates back to 600 AD, echoing a bygone era in Chinese burial tradition.

The library’s ‘room of knowledge’ theme is marked by a reduction of Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ and a marble statuette of Voltaire. Spot Gainsborough’s portrait of Lady May Bruce and Tang Dynasty Mingqi ‘Spirit good’ figure of a dancing girl, amongst the shelves of beautifully bound books, including several first editions.

A book spine-clad secret door leads to the Library Passage, lined with ceramics including burial pottery from the Han (206 BC–220 AD) and Tang (618–07 AD) dynasties, vases from the 17th–18th century of the Qing dynasty and burial equipment, tomb guardians and gods.

Immerse yourself in the welcoming surrounds of Ascott House and imagine living within its walls as you explore the historic house and collections at your own pace on this cultural day out near the capital. 

Leading through 5 ground-floor rooms of Ascott House, our team of volunteers is on hand to answer any questions and point out some of the house’s more unusual features.