What Is This? Old Mini-Jug Carnival Prize? (See Picture)

This item orginally caught my eye because it looked like a miniature yellow ware pottery jug. It's 4' tall and more like a lighter weight plaster material. What came with it are 5 tiny bisque figures, each about 1' long, that are attached to an old ribbon that's attached to what appears to be a cover to the jug. My guess is that this is an old carnival prize, or some sort of early party surprise. It appears that these figures fit down inside the jug and when the cover was detached the figures on the ribbon could be pulled out.

Any ideas? See a picture at the following web address:
http://www.webforsuccess.com/is/img/cygnet/ yellojug.jpg

Thanks!

i do not believe the figures originally came with the jug as I have seen the dolls several times, including from my grandmother who did win them at a carnival in the early 1900's..they are called frozen charlottes, and the boys are frozen charlies

I have no way of really knowing for sure if this jug originally came with these five dolls all attached to a ribbon. The jug is lightweight plaster, or like the old carnival chalkware, so it could be understandable because of their being so fragile that not many would survive. Of the little bisque figures you've seen, have you seen them attached to a ribbon? These 5 little figures are all