An interdisciplinary project at the University of Manchester examines ancient and medieval textiles from Egypt, now in sixteen museums in northern England (U.K.). Here, wealth generation through local textile industries in the 19th and early 20th centuries enabled entrepreneurs and manufacturers to fund excavations in Egypt, often to seek new evidence about the Christian Bible. These sponsors received a share of the archaeological finds which, together with examples purchased from dealers, they often donated to local museums, establishing truly remarkable collections. Now, examination of archaeological and historical data, together with scientific analysis of textile samples, provides new information about the manufacture, ownership and use of these precious commodities, and the trade that brought them to Egypt.