I did not want to interrupt the interesting posts that Mikeh has in the Marriage Commemorations thread.
Firstly, I would say there appears to be no evidence that the Handpainted cards of the Visconti/Sforza were for any commemorations at all. They seem to copy something that has gone before, but made personal. I imagine there was a prototype, that for all we know Visconti may have designed. We do not have it now.
Secondly it would seem that, you could get these cards from a source and make them as fine or as plain as you could acquire, or had the money to do so.
At least two decks have the 'Bembo workshop' stamp. They seem to be some years apart- not many, but some.
Now I come to what Mikeh said.....
For the white cross as a personal/familial device, all I can think of is Savoy. But what does the card have to do with Savoy? How could the card be commemorating a marriage to Marie of Savoy, whom Filippo would have nothing to do with? I am not ready to say that it is merely a generic card of love with no reference to particular individuals, as Berti maintains. There are too many signs otherwise (the fountain, the viper, and the historical background I have presented paralleling what was happening in late 1441 and in 1444). But lest I be suspected of engendering teapots--although I think it could be more like a black hole, i.e. something suggested by the evidence but perhaps will never be observed directly--
I believe it to be a generic card as Berti says- made personal. It was made personal by some mimicry of events from the past, as was common. It gives the card some authority and shows an established tradition. The visual tool for projecting political permanence was always used. The cards were obviously for Bianca and Francesco's use.
Bianca had the Savoy blood, and I guess, unless the white cross on a red field was just indicating Cremona- what else could it indicate? Well the title of this thread shows what I believe. Bianca in many ways mimics Teodolinda.
Today as in the past in Catholic homes the gifts for a birth of a son would been expensive Missal or Psalter, Holy Communion chalice (which became later Christening Cups)something spiritual- a Gold Cross or a sacred painting. Not a set of expensive playing cards. Not even along with other gifts would playing cards be acceptable.
Maybe a Birthday gift for Bianca- now I could see that.
Oh, and there seems to be another link to Savoy in the PMB- the Green glove on the Brides hand.
~Lorredan