9-1/8x22-5/8” superb vintage art deco wood frame has 7.25x20-5/8” opening revealing marbleized backing paper holding 5 real 1920s photo postcards. Each postcard is 3-3/8x5.25” with different scenes of pretty black topless dancer in various poses. Each is titled “Melka Follies Bergere” at upper right and all have imprint of photographer “Walery Paris 1085” at lower corner. Reverse side of frame has art gallery label with text “Terry Dintenfass, Inc.” with New York City address and typewritten text in French and English “La Prehistorie Du Jazz En France Assemblage 1973 Richard Merkin.” Bottom has foil sticker from Providence Picture Frame Co. Frame is hand-painted with contents totally assembled and displayed by Richard Merkin (1938-2009). Merkin held degrees from Syracuse University and Rhode Island School of Design. He began teaching at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1963 and remained there for nearly 40 years while his reputation built in New York. He is represented in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian Institution and the Whitney Museum among others. He was a contributing editor to Vanity Fair since 1966 and a regular contributor of illustrations to The New Yorker since 1988 as well as Harper’s and the New York Times Sunday magazine. In 1995 he illustrated the book “Leagues Apart: The Men And Times Of The Negro Baseball Leagues.” He also appeared on the cover of The Beatles “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album (back row, right of center). Vintage frame has trace of lt. wear around edges. Fine. Contents Exc. A stunning display and a unique Richard Merkin creation. From the Richard Merkin Collection.