Page 39 - Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Christie's Hong Kong May 29, 2019

The Larson Yongzheng Vase and Larson family members, circa early 1970s
拉爾森雍正大尊及拉爾森家族成員，攝於約 1970 年代早期

Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) – who at the time was a young engineer 交接，過客之一是在華工作的青年工程師胡佛
working in China - and his wife Lou Henry Hoover. The Hoovers were （Herbert Hoover，1874 至 1964 年）及其夫人胡
known collectors of Chinese blue and white ceramics, an interest shared 璐（Lou Henry Hoover），胡佛後來更成為了美國
by Larson. Another visitor to the Larson home was the world renowned 總統。胡氏伉儷是知名的中國青花瓷藏家，與拉
Swedish explorer Sven Hedin. In 1927, Larson and Hedin launched an 爾森志同道合。舉世知名的瑞典探險家赫汀（Sven
Hedin）亦是拉爾森的座上客。1927 年，拉爾森
expedition together which proved to be the largest scientific expedition
與赫汀聯袂展開一次科學探險之旅，其規模之大
in Mongolia to date. Putting his knowledge to good use, the intrepid
在蒙古可謂震古爍今，迄今無人能及。拉爾森充
Larson also led expeditions for renowned paleontologist Roy Chapman
份發揮自己的學識與膽識，帶領著名的古生物學
Andrews, the author of Across Mongolian Plains: A Naturalist’s Account 家安萊哲（Roy Chapman Andrews）遠征探險，後
of China’s ‘great Northwest, which chronicled their adventures. Larson 者的著作《Across Mongolian Plains: A Naturalist’s
assisted in many other expeditions in the region during his time in Account of China’s ‘great Northwest》記述了兩者途
Kalgan which are all well documented. 中的諸般見聞。拉爾森在張家口停居多年，期間
大力協助多支探險隊，具體細節均見於文獻記載。
Aside from exploration, Larson was a keen businessman who set up
various financial ventures in the support of his family including the 除探險之外，拉爾森亦營商有道，他曾從事多門
establishment of a successful horse breeding business in Kalgan which 生意，以支付家庭支出，例如在張家口繁育馬
supplied racehorses for the racing tracks of Beijing and Tianjin. Among 匹，專為北京和天津馬場供應賽馬，獲利甚豐。
他在商場涉獵甚廣，買賣古董便是其中之一。據
his many business opportunities was the buying and selling of antiques.
His family recalled that Larson collected bronzes in addition to 拉爾森親人憶述，除瓷器之外，他亦庋藏青銅
器。其後，拉爾森一家因時局動盪而屢次搬遷，
porcelain. Many items became a source of income to the family when
最終在 1939 年日本侵華之後與二戰爆發前舉家
they were forced to flee certain regions and when they ultimately settled
定居美國，拉爾森珍藏遂成為家人的收入來源。
in the United States following the Japanese invasion in 1939 before the 身在斯德哥爾摩的拉爾森得悉親人已在美國安
outbreak of the second World War. With his family settled in America, 頓下來，於是乘坐格利普森號輪船赴美與親人團
Larson travelled from Stockholm on the MS Gripsholm to join them. 聚，此行也為他在中國和蒙古的探險之旅劃上了
This voyage marked the end of his adventures in China and Mongolia. 完美的句號。

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