Art: Frames

New York Frame & Picture Co. celebrated a birthday last week (its 47th) by giving away etchings to anyone who applied. In its 47 years the company has had much experience in mounting mementos: it has framed bridal veils, ashes of the dead, love letters, canceled checks aggregating several billions of dollars. Biggest one: $146,000,000. An elderly businessman once brought in a baby dress his mother made him, had it framed for great-grandchildren. Lately a soldier came into the shop looking for a picture of General MacArthur, and met his long-lost brother, a sailor, who was having his marriage certificate framed.