207F

FIFE AND DRUM #1145/2500

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:NA
FIFE AND DRUM #1145/2500
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
FIFE AND DRUM #1145/2500
APPROX. 4" BY 4"
APPROX. 1.06 LBS
AUTHENTIC SCULPTURE BY FRANCIS BARNUM
SOLID PEWTER. WOOD BASE, HIGH QUALITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP

The sculpture “Fife and Drum” by Francis Barnum is a limited-edition Civil War–themed collectible sculpture that focuses on one of the most important parts of military life during the 18th and 19th centuries: regimental music used to communicate and coordinate troops on the battlefield.

Historical background of fife and drum music

During the American Civil War (1861–1865), armies used fife and drum corps to:

signal commands on the battlefield,
regulate marching pace,
boost morale in camps,
and communicate orders when voices or flags couldn’t be seen or heard.

This tradition actually goes back even earlier, to colonial and Revolutionary War armies, where fifes (small flutes) and drums were essential military tools.

What the sculpture represents

Francis Barnum’s “Fife and Drum” typically depicts a Civil War soldier or musician pair, showing:

a young drummer boy or fifer,
a marching or camp setting,
and the idea of music guiding soldiers through war.

Instead of focusing on combat, the sculpture highlights the support system behind the battlefield—the musicians who kept armies organized and moving.

Historical meaning in the Civil War

Fife and drum corps were especially important because:

orders needed to be heard over gunfire and chaos,
soldiers relied on rhythm to stay in formation during marches,
and music helped maintain morale during long campaigns.

Many drummer boys were teenagers, and they often:

accompanied regiments into battle,
carried messages,
and sometimes helped tend to wounded soldiers.
Symbolism in Barnum’s work

In Barnum’s style, “Fife and Drum” represents:

discipline and structure in the army
the youth and humanity of Civil War soldiers
the importance of communication in battle
the emotional role of music in wartime life

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