Lars Tharp
Lars Broholm Tharp (born 27 March 1954, Copenhagen, Denmark) 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. His maternal grandfather was the keeper of Antiquities at the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen and an expert on the Bronze Age. After moving to England aged six, 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. Career. In 1977, a year after graduating, Tharp began working as an auctioneer at Sotheby's, 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 in London, and Visiting Professor at De Montfort University, 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 "Antiques Roadshow". Representing Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, he joined team-members Helen Castor, Mark Damazer (captain) and Quentin Stafford-Fraser to win the Alumni "University Challenge" 2013. Tharp is a noted William Hogarth 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 in 2010. He serves on the court of England's  oldest recorded guild, the Worshipful Company of Weavers (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. 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: