Charming Vintage Dutch "Jan Stavast" Balancing Toy tiffany's and big ears

and big ears

I am completely taken with this little ringmaster (look at those pink cheeks

at the end of the day it's a very fine braided and woven antique Penobscot Northeast Coast Native American basket like this one--Shaker-like in its material integrity--that really takes my breath away

These really make me want to play just to see the color patterns that emerge

such is life

Charming Vintage Dutch "Jan Stavast" Balancing Toy tiffany's and big earsI've searched and searched but found no other like this one definitely Dutch, mid century or so I believe, and which seems likely was produced in a fairly limited edition. I've found there was a Dutch comic book series in which Jan Stavast was the hero, but whether or not the figure here references him I am not sure. The name of the game is to balance him in various positions in combination with the two other pieces included, with an accordian folded,