historically important original building artifact from an 1876 philadelphia centennial exposition building. research pertaining to the exact building from which the fragment was salvaged remains ongoing. the solid cast iron anthemion was used as an exterior ornament, adorning the roofline on one of the fair's buildings. the exact fabricator is not known, but likely attributed to an pennsylvania foundry. the decorative salvaged artifact is displayed with a custom-built mount comprised of steel with uniform black enameled finish. the fragment has been brushed down to bare metal and sealed with a clear coat lacquer. the centennial international exhibition of 1876, the first official world's fair in the united states, was held in philadelphia, pennsylvania, from may 10 to november 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence in philadelphia. officially named the international exhibition of arts, manufactures and products of the soil and mine, it was held in fairmount park along the schuylkill river on fairgrounds designed by herman j. schwarzmann. nearly 10 million visitors attended the exhibition and thirty-seven countries participated in it. 13x16