Kestner JDK Doll Marks and Mold Numbers
JDK Kestner over their long history of doll making from 1820 to 1938, used many different doll markings. Before 1892 a two digit size number or letter only, after 1892 a three digit mold number only, initials of JDK, K # C, K & Co, Kestner, Made in Germany, a label with a symbol of a crown with JDK or JD Kestner on the crown rim or on ribbons trailing beneath. Excelsior was Kestner’s trade name for dolls distributed in the USA or any combination of these markings. Kestner doll heads have a plaster like pate without pierced ears in most cases. Kestner doll & history page.
JDK Kestner Alphabet Series Shoulder or Socket Head Doll Marks
These Kestner bisque head dolls are marked with an alphabet number, Made in Germany, size number, with / without a mold.
Kestner doll mark a Made in Germany 4, doll mark A Germany 5, doll mark b Germany 3, doll mark B made in Germany 6, doll mark C Made in Germany 7, doll mark D Made in Germany 8, doll mark D 1/2 Made in Germany 8 1/2, doll mark E Made in Germany 9, doll mark F Made in Germany 10, doll mark G Germany 11, doll mark H Made in Germany 12, doll mark I Made in Germany 13, doll mark K Made in Germany 14, doll mark L Made in Germany 15, doll mark M Made in Germany 16, doll mark N Made in Germany 17, doll mark O Made in Germany 18, doll mark P Made in Germany 19, doll mark Q Made in Germany 20.
Antique JDK Kestner Doll Marks Identified
JDK Kestner Doll Mold Numbers Identified
Kestner began using mold numbers in 1892, dolls prior were marked with a size number or a letter only. Note: other doll makers may have used these mold numbers, put the number in our search box to find them, too. (2) indicates the mold number was used on two dolls, ie. an All Bisque doll and a bisque Head doll.
1, 1 1/2, 2/0, 2 1/2, 2/2, 3, 4, 5 1/2, 6 1/2, 6-3 1/2, 7, 8, 8 1/2, 10, 10P, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16-12, 17, 18, 20, 30 3 1/2, 36, 72, 102, (2) 103, 110, 111, 111 0, 112, 112 1, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, (2) 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, (2) 138, 139, 140, 141, 143, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, DEP 154, 155, 156, 159, 160, 161, 162, 164, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 186a, 186b, 187, 187a, 187b, 188, 189, 190, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 201, 203, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 226, 234, 235, 236, 237, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 243-21, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 254, 255, 257, 260, 262, 264, 265, 270, 272, 277, 279, 281, 282, 293, 310, 319, 349, 408, 409, 500S, 500W, 502, 505, 511, 512, 514, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528a, 528k, 528m, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535a, 535b, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 559, 560, 561, 563, 565, 566, 567, 568, 570, 574, 575, 577, 579, 586, 588, 589, 590, 593, 602, 620, 635, 639, 680, 698, 720, 911, 1045, 1070, 1080, 2120, 3562D, 3562/40a, 4999, 7043, 70685, 70686, O, X, XI, XII, All Bisque dolls can be marked or unmarked.
Kestner doll mold 100 series and 500 series are All Bisque dolls, Kestner doll mold 103 #2, is a bisque socket head, closed mouth doll in large sizes 28 – 34″, Kestner doll mold 154 (most common mold) shoulder head can be stamped on the leather body Gloriosa, Kestner doll mold 154 with a small kid body size is a dwarf Fat Baby, Kestner doll mold 171 is the 2nd most common mold, Kestner doll mold 172 is a socket head Gibson Girl doll, Kestner doll molds 180, 195, 196, 199, 265 have fur eyebrows patented in 1910, Kestner doll catalog number 192 (not a mold number) in 1910 are all bisque dolls (6) one is a Peterkin character doll, Dainty Dorothy doll mold 1080.
Kestner doll mold 111, 165, 122, 217, 221, 543, 601, 608 are all Googly Eye dolls, Kestner doll mold 205 or 208 are All Bisque dolls with yellow boots, Kestner doll molds 133, 138 All Bisque dolls have pierced ears and doll mold 264 which was made for Catterfelder Puppenfabrik – as a general rule, Kestner dolls do NOT have pierced ears. To the Kestner dolls & company history page.