Advertising display, J.W. Smitts Tea and Coffee Company, c. 1893 Possibly exhibited at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, IL. The Netherlands 86.20.12 At the end of the nineteenth century, imperialism and colonialism played crucial roles in the expansion of the world economy. Universal expositions celebrated these industrial and economic advances, and confirmed a growing interest in the non-Western world. This advertising display combines the exotic shape of a mosque with the technologically advanced use of electrical illuminations. The architectural representation of cultures at the world’s fairs was double-sided, making a claim to scientific authority and accuracy while nourishing fantasy and illusion. Back to World Fairs & Expositions Main Back to Collections Main