J.D. Kestner Jr. Co. - Dolls 1820-1938 Germany

J. D. Kestner Jr. Co. - Dolls 1820-1938 Germany

Johann Daniel Kestner Jr. (JDK) of Waltershausen, Thüringia, Germany began making paper mâché and wood dolls and toys as early as 1820. Kestner eventually went on to employ nearly 3/4 of the inhabitants of the Waltershausen region and earned the nickname "King Kestner". In 1858 J.D. Kestner passed away and his grandson Adolf eventually took over the running of the company, by 1860 they acquired the Ohrdug porcelain factory and began to produce the bisque dolls known by collectors today.

Some trade names for Kestner dolls are: Baby Jean, Sally, Sammy (JDK + size number), Daisy (#171), Hilda (#237, 245 & 1070), Max, Moritz, and Siegfried (#272) .

Here are some J.D. Kestner dolls we have found:

JDK mold # 214 - Dolly face doll, 10-42" tall, bisque socket head with plaster dome, feathered eyebrows, glass eyes, open mouth, wigged on a ball jointed wood & composition jointed body.

Doll shown is 32" tall.

JDK mold # 215 - Dolly face doll, 10-42" tall, bisque socket head with plaster dome, feathered eyebrows, glass eyes, open mouth, wigged on a ball jointed wood & composition jointed body.

Doll shown is 22" tall.

JDK mold # 260 - Character child doll, 8-42" tall, bisque shoulder head with plaster pate, glass or painted eyes, open or closed mouth, jointed composition body, wigged.

Doll shown is 25" tall, glass eyes and open mouth with teeth.

JD Kestner - Doll Marks or Markings

As you can guess from the length of their history, Kestner used many different doll markings; a letter only, a size number only, Kestner, initials of J.D.K., Made in Germany, a mold number, symbol of a crown with JDK company or JD Kestner on the crown rim or on ribbons trailing beneath, Excelsior (trade name for USA distributed dolls), or any combination.

JD Kestner - Doll Mold Numbers

Kestner began using mold numbers in 1892, dolls prior were marked with the size number or a letter only.

(note: other doll companies may have used some of these numbers as well)

103

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

154

155

156

159

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

168

169

164

170

171

172

173

174

177

178

179

180

181

182

183

184

185

186

187

189

190

192

195

196

199

200

201

203

206

208

210

211

212

214

215

216

218

219

220

221

226

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

241

242

243

245

246

247

249

250

254

255

257

260

262

263

264

267

272

277

281

282

292

408

409

J. D. Kestner Jr. Co. - Dolls 1820-1938 Germany

Items pictured here are for reference only - not for sale

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