Page 38 - Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Christie's Hong Kong May 29, 2019

FRANS AUGUST LARSON:

‘DUKE OF MONGOLIA’ (1870-1957)

Frans August Larson Frans August Larson in Mongolia, circa 1930s (far left)
拉爾森 拉爾森（左一），約 1930 年代攝於蒙古

rans August Larson, popularly known as ‘Duke of Mongolia’, 「蒙古公爵」拉爾森
was born to a humble family in Sweden. Orphaned at an early
Fage, Larson found work as a stable boy, a vocation from which 1870至1957年
he discovered his love for animals. It was his special connection with
horses that served Larson well in his early career: at first facilitating 拉爾森有「蒙古公爵」之譽，實則來自瑞典，出
friendships with Chinese military officials when he arrived in Mongolia, 身寒微。早年父母雙亡，所以要在馬廄打雜維生，
and then with the Prince of Ordos and Mongolian dignitaries, as 但透過這份工作，他發現自己由衷喜愛動物。拉
recorded in his memoirs, Larson – Duke of Mongolia, published in 1930. 爾森與馬匹心有靈犀，這對其早期的職業生涯大
有裨益：這一才能初則為他建立與中國軍官的友
Larson left Sweden for Mongolia in 1893. He arrived in Tianjin before 誼，繼而加深他與鄂爾多斯王子與蒙古權貴的交
travelling onto Beijing and then to Baotao. Acquiring proficiency in 情，拉爾森 1930 年出版的自傳《Larson – Duke
the Mongolian language through his friendship with the Prince of of Mongolia》對此記之甚詳。
Ordos, he arrived at Kalgan (Zhangjiakou), a town 140 miles northwest
1893 年，拉爾森離開瑞典，啟程前往蒙古，先
of Beijing, where he met and married fellow missionary Mary Rogers 到天津，再折往北京，後轉赴包頭。他與鄂爾
in 1897. Kalgan was primarily a home for Larson for the next forty 多斯王子交情甚深，藉此還學會了一口流利的
years. From the steppes, Larson raised his family and became a 蒙古話，其後再到距北京西北面 140 英哩的張家
highly valuable resource for a network of Scandinavian explorers and 口，並於當地邂逅同是傳教人員的羅瑪麗（Mary
missionaries as they travelled through the region. Against a backdrop of Rogers），二人於 1897 年結為連理。此後四十年
th
shifting political times of the early 20 century, Larson was consulted 間，拉爾森基本上以張家口為家。他在大草原上
成家立業，對眾多路經此地的北歐探險家和傳教
by political leaders such as Yuan Shikai and Chiang Kai Shek for
士來說，拉爾森直如一盞明燈。二十世紀初的政
his knowledge on Mongolia and for his advice in mediating border
局風譎雲詭，在此背景下，政壇元首如袁世凱、
conflicts between Mongolia and China. 蔣介石等皆慕名而至，諮詢他對蒙古之洞見，或
討教他對斡旋蒙漢邊境衝突的建議。
While living in Kalgan, the Larson family was well placed to meet many
passing travellers including the future President of the United States, 在張家口生活期間，拉爾森一家頗多機會與旅人

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