British Imperialism and its Legacies: Glasgow International Exhibition 1901
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of approximately 350 objects, including souvenirs, textiles, metalwork, and photographs, commemorating the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901. This followed on from the 1888 Exhibition, with the building and opening of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum as a celebration of Glasgow’s claim as Second City of the British Empire.
As in 1888, the Exhibition represented the industry, art, and history of the Empire, with pavilion displays representing Ireland, India, regions of Australia, Canada, South Africa and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). European and Asian countries were also represented.
The largest colonial pavilion was Canada’s, displaying agricultural products and commerce. The Irish ‘Squirrens House’ (thatched cottage) exhibit focused on farming and gardening, whilst the Indian and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) galleries showcased textiles and tea, and the Australian and South African galleries, gold mining. Captain T.G Glyn (b.1864) (Rhodesia Regiment) sent his collection of game shooting trophies and looted archaeological finds. These colonial displays showed how Britain was supplied with resources by the Empire.
The art galleries contained political and imperial content such as portraits of politicians and military leaders, captured weapons and honours from the second South African war of indepdence, and ship models of vessels involved in the war effort. Glaswegian Bennet Burleigh (1840 – 1914) lent his collection of South African objects to be displayed. Entertainments included Indian theatre, snake charming, a military rifle range and a ‘shooting jungle’.
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