South African International Exhibition

For the 1892 world's fair in Kimberley, Cape Colony, see South African and International Exhibition.

South African International Exhibition
Overview
BIE-class	Unrecognized exposition
Name	South African International Exhibition
Participant(s)
Countries	At least 5 (including colonies), potentially 11 or more
Location
Country	Cape Colony
City	Cape Town, Cape Colony
Coordinates	33°55′42″S18°25′07″E / 33.9282485°S 18.41851°E / -33.9282485; 18.41851
Timeline
Opening	15 February 1877
Closure	17 November 1877

The South African International Exhibition was a world's fair held in Cape Town, Cape Colony in 1877. ^[1] It was officially opened on 15 February of that year ^{[2] [3]} by Henry Bartle Frere.^{[ citation needed ]}

Location

The exhibition was held inside a custom-made building ^[4] that was constructed out of glass and iron in a style reminiscent of The Crystal Palace that housed London's Great Exhibition. ^[5] It was located on the grounds of the Freemasons' Lodge de Goede Hoop, which was being used as the Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope at that time. ^[6]

Exhibits

During 1876, Signor Cagli had canvassed American and European industries to exhibit “manufactures of all kinds”, ^[6] which were to be grouped in 10 classes: alimentation, chemicals (perfume, medicine and surgical equipment), furniture, fabric and jewelry, transport vehicles and equipment, hardware, machinery, agriculture, science and education, and miscellany such as fire extinguishers. ^{[4] [5]} Cagli's proposal was supported by the then-Colonial Secretary, Lord Carnarvon. ^[5]

The only countries and colonies with known recorded exhibitors include Great Britain, the Cape Colony, Natal, the Orange Free State, and Griqualand West. ^[5] However, representatives of the exhibition organizers were present and accepting submissions during the preceding months in "Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Turin and Amsterdam." ^[5] As such, it seems likely that exhibitors from France, the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Italy, and the Netherlands also presented at the fair. Individual exhibitors included: Wertheim safes; ^[7] Taylor's sewing machines, who won a medal; ^[8] Sheffield-based Samuel Marshall, who showed hooks, hay knives, scythes and sheep shears; ^[9] and linen manufacturers Rylands & Sons, who won a prize (followed by another a year later at the Paris exhibition). ^[10]

Aftermath

After the exhibition, the main building was used as an assembly hall and a theatre, aptly called the Exhibition Theatre. In the afternoon of 21 February 1892, around 3:30 PM, carpenters and scenery painters were preparing for a new play when a fire broke out near the theatre entrance. In less than one hour, the entire building was destroyed, along with the adjoining Masonic Lodge and Native Affairs Office. ^[11]

References

1. Pelle, Findling, ed. (2008). "Appendix D:Fairs Not Included". Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 424. ISBN   978-0-7864-3416-9.
2. "Cape Colony: South African International Exhibition, Cape Town" . Retrieved 15 June 2017.
3. "Event View - Calendar – Iziko Museums" . Retrieved 7 February 2019.
4. Chemical News, Manufacturing chemists, 20 October 1776, p. 169
5. "South African International Exhibition". The British Architect and Northern Engineer. VI (11): 171. September 15, 1876. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
6. "Lodge de Goede Hoop and the Cape House of Assembly | Grand Lodge of South Africa - Southern Division" . Retrieved 16 June 2017.
7. "Biography of the founder - Wertheim" . Retrieved 16 June 2017.
8. "WILLIAM TAYLOR SEWING MACHINE, SEWALOT" . Retrieved 17 June 2017.
9. "Exhibitions Study Guide v1-0 PDF.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved 17 June 2017.
10. "Rylands & Sons Ltd | Science Museum Group Collection" . Retrieved 16 June 2017.
11. The 1892 South African and International Exhibition, Kimberley. Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum, South African and International Exhibition. [Kimberley]: McGregor Museum. 1992. ISBN   0-620-17087-5. OCLC   34046200.