Charming Vintage Dutch "Jan Stavast" Balancing Toy tiffany's such is life

such is life

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

He described this one as a dog

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

which render the whole piece one to be actively engaged from every angle

Charming Vintage Dutch "Jan Stavast" Balancing Toy tiffany's such is lifeI'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,