DOLL #18 - J.D. Kestner

This 11-inch J.D. Kestner bisque doll dates to before 1897 and is marked 143 Made in Germany, placing it among Kestner's earlier character and fashion doll productions. She is dressed in an elegant peach satin dress trimmed with lace and ribbon accents, complemented by a matching bonnet and knit stockings. Her expressive face, dark glass sleep eyes, and finely painted features reflect the quality workmanship for which the Kestner factory became famous.

The doll is listed in good condition, showing some expected wear to the hands. Notable condition issues include a tiny chip at the corner of the left eye and a hairline crack extending from the eye area toward the nose, both of which should be noted by collectors. The wig is recorded as newer than the doll itself. Despite these imperfections, she remains an attractive example of an early Kestner doll and retains functioning sleep eyes.

Family records indicate an estimated purchase price of approximately $315 on eBay in 2011. Her early date, identifiable mold marking, and original character make her a desirable representative of late nineteenth-century German doll manufacturing.

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Doll #17 - J.D. Kestner

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Doll #19 - J.D. Kestner