System for mounting front-loaded photographs

A system for mounting thin flat items, comprising:

• a substrate having an outer surface defining at least one recess therein, said recess having an opening thereinto, a closed, planar bottom surface, and a curvilinear recess wall connecting said planar bottom surface to said recess opening in said outer surface, said recess wall having a smooth curvilinear sidewall portion intersecting said planar bottom surface, said recess wall defining a continuous curvilinear periphery of said recess having a first peripheral outline, a first peripheral dimension and a second peripheral dimension, whereby the first peripheral outline and first peripheral dimension define the smallest shape and size of the recess, and whereby the first peripheral outline and the second peripheral dimension represent the shape and size of said recess at the intersection of said sidewall portion and said planar bottom surface;
• a transparent protective cover, said cover being disposed in the recess so as to rest on top of the thin, flat item and to hold the item against the planar bottom surface of the recess, said cover having a curvilinear peripheral outline corresponding to the first peripheral outline of said recess but having a slightly smaller peripheral dimension than the first peripheral dimension of said recess, whereby said cover is arranged to fit inside said recess;
• and
• a continuous flexible decorative retaining ring, said retaining ring having a curvilinear peripheral outline corresponding to said first peripheral outline arranged to contact said sidewall portion, said retaining ring being disposed in the recess and having a third peripheral dimension smaller than the first peripheral dimension, so as to retain said transparent protective cover in the recess.