‏‏‎ Museu Nacional do Azulejo Crib (detail of polychrome terracotta figure)

One of the most important collections of a Portuguese tradition that preceded the creation of Neapolitan cribs, is the nucleus of the Nativity attributed to Dionísio and António Ferreira, which was executed circa 1700. The tradition of monumental cribs in Portugal with their polychrome terracotta figures and notes of gold and silver on some of the characters, began at the end of the 17th century. However, it was the partnership between Ferreira father and son and, later, Joaquim Machado de Castro (b. 1731 – d. 1822), that added vigour to nuclei such as the one shown here, which constitute an eloquent testimony. Although out of context today with respect to its position in another site here, the so-called Crib Room, and reduced to one-third of its original size – because of the works carried out here in the last quarter of the 20th century - the Madre de Deus crib is one of the most extraordinary creations by Portuguese potters on the theme of the Birth of Jesus. Strongly influenced by Flemish sensibility, intimate in taste, with finely modelled figures representing shepherds and showing the procession of the Magi in the background, as well as seraphim, cherubim and an archangel, as we contemplate it we understand why Machado de Castro considered António Ferreira the best Portuguese crib-making potter.