Is this Civil War (Victorian) wrought iron decoration valuable?
This came from a house on the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Street in Indianapolis. It was most likely from the 1865 edition but less likely from the 1890 edition. Long ago, it had been removed from above a fireplace and stored in the attic. It appears to be heavy iron and a friend said probably made by a machine that would have twisted and curled the iron strips. President Benjamin Harrison would have lived just a couple blocks down the road if it were from the 1865 edition, and the nation would have been in the civil war. At the time Indianapolis was a major union establishment.
I'd like to know whether it has much value and needs to be preserved in its current, rusted condition or whether I can just clean it up and / or repaint it to hang over my fireplace. That was my original intent but I'm having second thoughts after learning how old it may be. Any antique buffs out there who might be able to tell me more about it?
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