Obstetric forceps

When COUNTRY LIFE’s Henry Avray Tipping spotted a 17th-century four poster languishing in a Herefordshire attic in 1911, he set off a chain of events that saw the bed leave its ancestral home and land at The Met in New York

With a strength of character that belied her fragile looks, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun pushed the boundaries of royal portraiture and, after the French Revolution, challenged the loss of female influence via every frill and fold in her work

Making the best use of fabric scraps, rag rugs may have been born of exigency, but the creativity behind their intricately woven designs knows no bounds, discovers Matthew Dennison

SINCE its earliest days, the “Friend” has been dispensing advice for its readers on a multitude of topics, be it household tips, matters of the heart, health or travel advice. But in our 1891 issues,

Talking infants in medieval French literature

We may have all manner of modern gadgetry and user-friendly kit in our kitchens, but often it’s the most humble objects that mean more to us than anything else.