Lars Tharp

Lars Broholm Tharp
FSA
Born (1954-03-27)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
Notable work Treasures of Chinese Porcelain (BBC 2011); China in Six Easy Pieces (BBC 2013); Quizeum
Television numerous TV and radio series, documentaries and series including (since 1986) Antiques Roadshow
Website www.tharp.co.uk

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] His maternal grandfather was the keeper of Antiquities at the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen and an expert on the Bronze Age.[2] After moving to England aged 6 Lars 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 Sotheby's, where he specialised in European and Chinese ceramics.[1] Tharp continued to work with Sotheby's 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."[3]

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 Britain, China and Scandinavia.[1]

Media appearances

Television

All BBC unless stated:

Radio

"A journey around Hans Christian Andersen" (2005 - co-presenter with Michael Rosen)

Publications

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 'THARP, Lars Broholm', Who's Who 2011, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2010 (accessed 23 September 2011).
  2. David Battie and Fiona Malcolm (2005). The Antiques Roadshow. Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 1-84533-060-9.
  3. Coles, John (30 January 2010). "Lars' joy over Sun antiques". The Sun.

External links

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