Lars Tharp
| Lars Broholm Tharp FSA | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 27, 1954 Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Residence | Leicestershire, England |
| Education | Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys |
| Alma mater | Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Historian, lecturer and broadcaster |
| Television | Antiques Roadshow |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Lars Broholm Tharp (born 27 March 1954, Copenhagen, Denmark)[1] is a Danish-born British historian, lecturer and broadcaster, and one of the longest running 'experts' on the BBC antiques programme, Antiques Roadshow, first appearing in 1986.
Early life and education
Tharp was born in Copenhagen on 27 March 1954, the son of Harry Tharp and Anne Marie Broholm.[1] He was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys]] in Leicester, England, before studying for an undergraduate degree in Archaeology and Anthropology at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University.[1]
Career
In 1977, a year after graduating, Tharp began working as an auctioneer at Sothebys, where he specialised in European and Chinese ceramics.[1] Tharp continued to work with Sothebys for sixteen years, becoming a director in 1983.[1] He left to form his own company 'Lars Tharp Ltd' in 1993. In 2008 he was appointed the Director of the Foundling Museum in London, and Visiting Professor at De Montfort University, Leicester. Today (2015) he represents the Foundling Museum as its Ambassador, and as "Hogarth Curator".
Tharp is also well known for his appearances as a ceramics expert on the British antiques programme Antiques Roadshow. Tharp explained the appeal of the programme as follows:
"The joy of The Antiques Roadshow is its variety -as well as the possibility that someone may bring something along used as a dog's bowl or an umbrella stand which turns out to be worth a fortune."[2]
Representing Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, he joined fellow Caians Helen Castor, Mark Damazer (captain) and Quentin Stafford-Fraser to win the Alumni University Challenge 2013.
Personal life
Tharp lives in Leicestershire with his wife Gillian Block, whom he married in 1983. They have two daughters.[1]
Apart from antiques, Tharp has a particular interest in music, having played the cello since the age of eight. He also lists travel among his interests, leading cultural tours in England, China and Scandinavia.[1]
Media appearances
Television
- "Quizeum" (2015) - panellist
- "University Challenge (Alumni) - panellist
- China in Six Easy Pieces (2013) - presenter, writer
- Treasures of Chinese Porcelain (2011) - presenter, co-writer
- Fragile History of Ceramics: Handmade in Britain (2011) - expert
- The Antiques Roadshow (1986–present) - expert
- The Real Collector's Guide (1995) - presenter
- Antiques Inspectors (1997, 1999) - expert
- Inside Antiques (2004) - presenter
- Castle in the Country (2004-2008) - expert
Radio
- Hidden Treasures (1998-2002) - chairman/ co-writer
- Out of the Fire (2000) - presenter
- For What It's Worth (2002-2006) - presenter
- Men in Bow Ties (2007) - presenter
- On the China Trail (2007) - presenter
- Earth to Earth: Potted Immortality (2009) - presenter
- Twenty Minutes: There's Something About the Cello (2011) - presenter
Publications
- The Little, Brown Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Antiques (ed. with Paul Atterbury), 1994
- Hogarth's China: Hogarth's Paintings and Eighteenth-century Ceramics, 1997
- Reader's Digest: Treasures in Your Home (with David Battie)
- How to Spot a Fake, 1999
- A-Z of 20th Century Antiques (ed.), 2000
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 'THARP, Lars Broholm', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 23 September 2011).
- ↑ Coles, John (30 January 2010). "Lars' joy over Sun antiques". The Sun.