The jigsaw – made by Waddington’s – shows one of the Scotland Pavilions (there were two of these sited opposite each other on Scottish Avenue,) the Tower of Empire, United Kingdom Pavilion and the Canadian Pavilion plus a troop of charging horse.

The box this one came in was a bit tatty but still striking with the lion rampant logo and Tower of Empire.

There is another Waddington’s jigsaw of the Exhibition featuring a closer view of the Tower of Empire with aeroplanes in the sky overhead and this time with a marching band of bagpipers approaching the foreground. I have that in a cupboard somewhere.

This is a sepia postcard showing a general view of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland, 1938 held in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.

And this one shows a close-up of the bandstand. Brilliant curve on the shelter part!

Another black and white photographic postcard of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland, 1938. The United Kingdom Pavilion.

Another black and white postcard of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland, 1938, held in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. This time, the entrance to the UK Pavilion.

Lovely Deco features; rounded columns with banding at the flagpole supports, vertical dividers, sculptured figures – which, like the lions flanking the steps, were gold painted.

A photographic postcard this time; showing Tait’s Tower at the Empire Exhibition, Scotland, 1938, from the air.

The Empire Exhibition of 1938 spawned many items of memorabilia. Various versions of the Tower of Empire (this category, passim) were made from china, metal or plastic; there were handkerchiefs with pictures of the Exhibition buildings, as well as the artist painted coloured ones many sepia photographic postcards were produced, leather items embossed with the Tower or the Exhibition lion, playing cards, matchbooks, commemorative glass tumblers, jigsaws, innumerable tins, all sorts of stuff.

Among these was a set of china cups, plates, dishes etc in deco style made by Carlton Ware and featuring a picture of Tait’s Tower in shades of green, brown and cream. For these the sole seller was Treron of Glasgow, a department store located in Sauchiehall Street (now of course no more.) The legend “supplied by Treron of Glasgow” was stamped on the base of each.

The dish shown below, with its angular lugs, is perhaps the most deco of these in feel.

Another artist drawn postcard of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938, this time of the North Cascade and Tower.

Another artist drawn postcard of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland, 1938. This time the United Kingdom Pavilion building.

The artist who drew the paintings featured on these postcards, issued by the manufacturer Valentine’s, was called Brian Gerald. A list of all the cards he painted can be found here.

An artist drawn picture postcard of the Tower of Empire (Tait’s Tower) at the Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938.

This is a postcard of the Tower of Empire at the Empire Exhibition, Scotland, 1938, otherwise known as Tait’s Tower, after the architect. It gives some idea of what a fine sight the Tower must have been when lit up at night.

It’s not a true colour photo but rather a colourised one.

Stunning whatever.