[post_page_title]Pregnant royals in the Renaissance received commemorative trays[/post_page_title]
When royal women of the Renaissance became pregnant, they often received a gift of “birth trays.” These trays, specially commissioned and made of wood or precious metals, were adorned with biblical images of births or celebrations, or images of important military victories of male figures (obviously).
The trays would also be overloaded with treats like sweetmeats, to help the royal regain her strength post-birth. They were presented when royals began their lying-in period, and would be hung on walls as keepsakes after they gave birth. Interestingly, a secondary market soon developed around them, with affluent but common men wishing to buy them for their own wives.
