This fascinating and accurate picture perhaps shows the beginnings of the British steel industry. Here we see Iron Age workers in action, with a well-built furnace in the background and carefully crafted moulds for axe-heads on the bench, carefully being filled with the molten metal.

The Iron Age by Peter Jackson

Many more pictures of prehistoric times can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

We have selected three of the best pictures from ‘The Graphic’, a nineteenth-century illustrated newspaper and rich source of remarkable engravings.
The first picture shows the distribution of newspapers by bicycle.

A Novel Feature in London Life, the distribution of Newspapers by Bicycle Boys by R Ponsonby Staples

The second picture shows a comparison of human and animal skeletons.

Skeleton of an Akka Woman compared with those of a Man of Ordinary Height and Du Chaillu's Gorilla

The third picture shows a Music Hall audience during the interval.

London Sketches, at a Music Hall by J D Linton

High-resolution scans of all the illustrations from ‘The Graphic’ (London 1870-1902) can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of St John’s Eve are vivid images of traditional celebrations on Midsummer’s eve.
The first picture shows a traditional bonfire in Bavaria.

The Midsummer Eve Bonfire in the Bavarian Highlands by A J Johnson

The second picture shows dancers around a bonfire in Brittany.

Dancing around the fire on the Eve of St John (midsummer)

The third picture shows the festival in old England.

Midsummer, The Bonfire

Many more pictures of festivals can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of Asiatic weapons, pipes and jewellery show many images of the appurtenances of Asian men and women.
The first picture shows pipes and hookahs.

Asian Costume

The second picture shows Asiatic jewellery.

Asian Costume

The third picture shows swords, daggers and axes.

Asian Costume

Many more pictures of national costume can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of Asiatic turbans and headdresses are colourful images of traditional head-dress in Asia.
The first picture shows men’s headdresses.

Asiatic Costume

The second picture shows men’s and women’s headdresses.

Asiatic Costume

The third picture shows men’s headdress.

Asiatic Costume

Many more pictures of national costume can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of Russian hats and headdresses are characterful images of the distinctive head-dress of men and women in Russia.
The first picture shows women wearing several beautiful kokoshniks.

Russian Costume

The second picture shows men’s hats.

Russian Costume

The third picture shows both men’s and women’s headdress.

Russian Costume

Many more pictures of national costume can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of historic costume in Russia are colourful images of traditional dress and ceremonial costume among the Russians.
The first picture shows a noblewoman with children and nursemaids.

Russian costume

The second picture shows richly robed men.

Russian costume

The third picture shows a mixed group.

Russian costume

Many more pictures of national costume can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of historic costume in Turkey are colourful images of traditional dress among the Turks.
The first picture shows a group of four.

Turkish Costume

The second picture shows a group of five.

Turkish Costume

The third picture shows a group of women and men.

Turkish Costume

Many more pictures of national costume can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of the costume, artefacts and furnishings of Arabian peoples are detailed images of their culture.
The first picture shows Arabian costume and jewellery.

Arabian costume and jewellery

The second picture shows Arabian metalwork.

Arabian metalwork

The third picture shows Arabian furnishings and musical instruments.

Arabian furnishings

Many more pictures of national costume can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of costume in Ottoman Turkey, Central Asia and the Near East are detailed images of dress worn by many different peoples.
The first picture shows costume in Ottoman Turkey.

Costumes of Ottoman Turkish Europe, late 19th Century

The second picture shows costumes of Central Asia in the late 19th Century.

Costumes of Central Asia, late 19th Century

The third picture shows costumes of the Near East.

Costumes of the Near East

Many more pictures of national costume can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.