Lars Broholm Tharp (born 27 March 1954,

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

, Denmark)THARP, Lars Broholm
, '' Who's Who 2011'',

A & C Black A & C Black is a British book publishing company, owned since 2002 by Bloomsbury Publishing. The company is noted for publishing '' Who's Who'' since 1849. It also published popular travel guides and novels. History The firm was founded in 18 ...

, 2011; online edn,

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print book ...

, December 2010 (accessed 23 September 2011). is a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

-born British historian, lecturer and broadcaster, and one of the longest running 'experts' on the

BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...

antiques programme, ''

Antiques Roadshow ''Antiques Roadshow'' is a British television programme broadcast by the BBC in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom (and occasionally in other countries) to appraise antiques brought in by local peopl ...

'', first appearing in 1986.

Early life and education

Tharp was born in

on 27 March 1954, the son of Harry Tharp and Anne Marie Broholm. His maternal grandfather was the keeper of Antiquities at the

National Museum of Denmark The National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) in Copenhagen is Denmark's largest museum of cultural history, comprising the histories of Danish and foreign cultures, alike. The museum's main building is located a short distance from Strøge ...

, Copenhagen and an expert on the

Bronze Age The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second pri ...

. After moving to England aged six, Lars was educated at

Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys was a grammar school in Leicester, England, in existence from 1876 to 1976. It was succeeded by the present-day Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College. History After William Wyggeston's death in 1536, his bro ...

in Leicester, England, before studying for an undergraduate degree in

Archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts ...

and

Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of be ...

Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Gonville and Caius College, often referred to simply as Caius ( ), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1348, it is the fourth-oldest of the University of Cambridge's 31 colleges and one of ...

Career

In 1977, a year after graduating, Tharp began working as an

auctioneer An auction is usually a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bids, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from the lowest bidder. Some exceptions to this definition e ...

Sotheby's Sotheby's () is a British-founded American multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, an ...

, where he specialised in European and Chinese ceramics. Tharp continued to work with Sotheby's for sixteen years, becoming a director in 1983. He left to form his own company Lars Tharp Ltd in 1993. In 2008 he was appointed the Director of the

Foundling Museum The Foundling Museum in Brunswick Square, London tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, Britain's first home for children at risk of abandonment. The museum houses the nationally important Foundling Hospital Collection as well as the Gerald ...

in London, and

Visiting Professor In academia, a visiting scholar, visiting researcher, visiting fellow, visiting lecturer, or visiting professor is a scholar from an institution who visits a host university to teach, lecture, or perform research on a topic for which the visitor ...

De Montfort University De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is a public university in the city of Leicester, England. It was established in accordance with the Further and Higher Education Act in 1992 as a degree awarding body. The name De Montfort University was ta ...

, Leicester. Since 2010 Tharp has represented the Foundling Museum as its ‘Hogarth Curator’. As a ceramic historian Tharp also contributed to the major Tate Gallery exhibition ‘Hogarth and Europe’ and during its run(Nov 2021-March 2022), delivering a keynote speech at Colonial Williamsburg VA Tharp is also well known for his regular appearances (1986 to present) as a ceramics expert on the BBC’s globally seen antiques programme ''

''. Representing Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, he joined team-members Helen Castor, Mark Damazer (captain) and Quentin Stafford-Fraser to win the Alumni ''

University Challenge ''University Challenge'' is a British television quiz programme which first aired in 1962. ''University Challenge'' aired for 913 episodes on ITV from 21 September 1962 to 31 December 1987, presented by quizmaster Bamber Gascoigne. The BBC ...

'' 2013. Tharp is a noted

William Hogarth William Hogarth (; 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, engraver, pictorial satirist, social critic, editorial cartoonist and occasional writer on art. His work ranges from realistic portraiture to comic strip-lik ...

enthusiast. Noting The artist's theatrical use of ceramics in his paintings and prints he wrote ''Hogarth's China'' to accompany an exhibition timed to commemorate the artist's tercentenary (1997). The exhibition was expanded and ran at Wedgwood in the following year. Tharp devised three further exhibitions for York Museum Trust under the umbrella 'Celebrating Ceramics' (2003). He was a member of YMT's steering group setting up their Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA). Tharp has received two Honorary Doctorates: from De Montfort University (HonDArt); and from Leicester University (HonDLitt) and was elected

Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher educationa ...

in 2010. He serves on the court of England's oldest recorded guild, the

Worshipful Company of Weavers The Worshipful Company of Weavers is the most ancient of the Livery Companies in the City of London. It existed in the year 1130, and was perhaps formed earlier. The company received a Royal Charter in 1155. At present, the Company retains a conn ...

(est. by 1130AD). An accredited speaker for (inter alia) The Arts Society (NADFAS), Tharp lectures throughout Europe, Asia and Australasia and leads cultural tours to China, Dresden, Scandinavia and within the UK. In February 2021 Tharp was made A Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

Personal life

Tharp lives in Leicestershire with his wife Gillian Block, whom he married in 1983. They have two daughters, Helena and Georgina, who share a birthday. 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.

Media appearances

Television

All BBC unless stated: * '' Quizeum'' (2015) – panellist * ''

'' (Alumni) – panellist Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (series winner, 2013/4) * '' One Man and his Pug -in search of Hogarth's 'Trump''' (2013 * ''

China in Six Easy Pieces China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

'' (2013) – presenter, writer * ''

Treasures of Chinese Porcelain A treasure is a concentration of riches. Treasure may also refer to: Literature * ''Treasure'' (Cussler novel), a 1988 novel by Clive Cussler * ''Treasure'' (magazine), a British periodical for children * '' Treasure: In Search of the Golden Ho ...

'' (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 (Channel One, London) * ''

Antiques Inspectors An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...

'' (1997, 1999) – expert * ''Inside Antiques'' (2004) – presenter * ''

Castle in the Country A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

'' (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 * ''Archive Hour (Radio 4): 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 * ''A journey around Hans Christian Andersen'' (2005 – co-presenter with

Michael Rosen Michael Wayne Rosen (born 7 May 1946) is a British children's author, poet, presenter, political columnist, broadcaster and activist who has written 140 books. He served as Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009. Early life Michael Wayne Ro ...

)

Publications

* ''The Little, Brown Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Antiques'' (ed. with

Paul Atterbury Paul Rowley Atterbury, FRSA (born 8 April 1945) is a British antiques expert, known for his many appearances since 1979 on the BBC TV programme ''Antiques Roadshow.'' He specialises in the art, architecture, design and decorative arts of the 19t ...

), 1994 * ''Hogarth's China: Hogarth's Paintings and Eighteenth-century Ceramics'', 1997 * ''Reader's Digest: Treasures in Your Home'' (with

David Battie David Battie FRSA (born 22 October 1942) is a British retired expert on ceramics, with a particular specialism in Japanese and Chinese artefacts. Career After attending art school, where he studied graphic design, Battie worked for ''Reader's D ...

) * ''How to Spot a Fake'', 1999 * ''A-Z of 20th Century Antiques'' (ed.), 2000 * ‘’Hogarth and Europe’’(Tate 2021-2022 exhibition catalogue, contributor) 2021

References

External links

Official websiteDe Montfort University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tharp, Lars 1954 births Living people Danish emigrants to England People from Copenhagen People educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys Alumni of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Danish curators English curators Antiques experts Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London People from Leicestershire