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Traditional old crib figurines were modelled in clay and apart from the grotto group which includes Baby Jesus, the Blessed Virgin and Joseph, the three Magi, the donkey, the cow and a white dove representing the Holy Spirit, also included a shepherd, two street singers, the shepherd's pipe and drum players, a hunter, a farmer, the baker, woman with a flour sack, the sleeping man, the man with both hands lifted up in wonder, the man sprawled on his stomach and perched on top of the grotto looking down at Baby Jesus and a good number of white wax sheep.These penny clay figurines were easily acquired and easily broken too. There was a great turnover of such figurines which were found for sale in each town and village local bazaars.
Nowadays modern plastic figurines are more commonly found in the popular Maltese family crib. However many dilettante treasure hand-made clay figurines of renowned local artists such as of the renowned Giusti and Nazzareno Gauci (Disma) and the younger generation of artists such as Pierre Bugeja, Rosario Darmanin and Joe Camilleri whose work of art is currently on show in this section.
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Crib figurines by Rosario Darmanin
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Crib figurines by Pierre Bugeja
