Commemorative Swiss cow bell presented to N M Rothschild & Sons Limited, London by Rothschild Bank AG, Zurich, 2001
In July 1968 NMR and Compagnie du Nord (holding company of Banque Rothschild) established Rothschild AG, a finance company, in Zurich. The initial chair was Jacob, later 4th Lord Rothschild (1936-2024). Since then, the business has offered services in Switzerland helping clients to structure and safeguard their wealth and investing and managing their financial assets.
At New Court, there is a tradition of combining business with humanity, and staff continue to enjoy a variety of clubs such as the Musical Society, and a range of sporting associations. For several years there were regular friendly football games between offices, including one on 8th October 1989, when the Zurich team tackled the London team on their home turf, presenting this cow bell as a commemoration of the event.
The tradition of hanging bells around cows' necks dates to the Middle Ages in Europe. Bells helped farmers locate their grazing cattle in the mountains and forests. In Switzerland, cow bell making developed into a specialised craft starting in the 18th century. They are often said to be the sound of Switzerland.
