171F

BRIGHT DAWN #39/1500

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5.00 USD Estimated At:NA
BRIGHT DAWN #39/1500
BIDDING STARS SOON!
Approx $250,000 Collection (Original Purchase price per the family. Purchased for an investment )
STILL PROCESSING SALES LOTS. TOTAL PCS OVER 150 :
FROM THE ESTATE OF MR. & MRS. WILLIAM DOYLE
FRANCIS BARNUM SCULPTURES RARE & LIMITED EDITION / 150 PCS PLUS
CIVIL WAR , OLD WEST , WILDLIFE . All MADE IN AMERICA OF THE FINEST PEWTER AND AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP. ALL SIGNED BY FRANCIS BARNUM
BRIGHT DAWN #39/1500
APPROX. 9" BY 5"
APPROX. 3.98 LBS
AUTHENTIC SCULPTURE BY FRANCIS BARNUM
SOLID PEWTER, WOOD BASE, HIGH QUALITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP

Francis J. Barnum’s Bright Dawn is a limited-edition Chilmark Fine Pewter sculpture that focuses on a quiet, reflective Civil War–era moment rather than a battle scene.

What the piece is about

Bright Dawn typically shows two mounted officers meeting at dawn, suggesting:

the calm before battle
a moment of reflection or planning
the uncertainty of war beginning again

It’s one of Barnum’s more peaceful and atmospheric works, compared to his action-heavy pieces like Pickett’s Charge or The Irish Brigade.

Production details
Made by Chilmark Fine Pewter
Limited edition, often listed around 1,500 pieces
Mounted on a wood display base
Signed/numbered by the artist in many examples
Typically around 5 inches tall depending on version

HISTORY:
Francis J. Barnum’s Bright Dawn is a symbolic Civil War–themed sculpture created for the Chilmark Fine Pewter collection. Unlike his battle scenes, it is meant to capture a quiet moment before conflict begins.

What “Bright Dawn” represents

The sculpture is not based on a single recorded historical event. Instead, it reflects a common Civil War experience:

officers meeting or preparing at first light
the calm before battle orders are given
the uncertainty of what the day will bring

The “dawn” theme symbolizes both:

a new day beginning
and the beginning of war’s destruction on that day
Historical context behind the theme

During the American Civil War (1861–1865), dawn was a very common time for:

troop movements and positioning
surprise attacks or planned offensives
final preparation before engagement

Barnum used this setting to emphasize the emotional tension soldiers faced before combat.

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