One of the loveliest and perhaps most touching items in the PARCUM collection is this ‘Baby Jesus in His crib’. The ensemble consists of a wax baby Jesus in a straw crib, covered with a bell jar. This rests on a silver pedestal that depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds and has a text that says it was ‘provided by Sister Christina Moerman’s mother in 1734’. The whole thing rests on a small wooden cabinet. Via a wind-up clockwork mechanism, the baby Jesus can open and close His eyes and move His arms. Such baby Jesus models were designed to deepen the mystical experiencing of the Christ child. Some texts mention how they were placed in front of the altar on Christmas Eve. To the music of Christmas carols, the sisters would then step forward one by one, kneel down and rock the baby Jesus. The ensemble was most likely also displayed in the convent during the Christmas period. Two music boxes, which played Christmas carols, were inserted into the cabinet. These have also been preserved. These baby Jesus models were mainly found in the Southern Netherlands. Few have survived.