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Textiles have long remained in the shadow of more conspicuous archaeological finds such as monumental sculpture, decorated coffins, and jewellery. Yet these often-overlooked artefacts offer vital insights into technology, economics, religion, dress, and daily life. Weaving for Eternity is therefore a welcome publication, bringing together an important body of material that has remained largely inaccessible to both scholars and the wider public. The volume presents the results of a project undertaken at the University of Manchester, examining ancient and medieval Egyptian textiles preserved in 16 museums across northern England. These collections owe much to the enthusiasm and philanthropy of 19th- and early 20th-century industrialists and collectors, whose wealth, often itself derived from textile manufacture, helped finance archaeological excavations in Egypt.
Following an introductory discussion of the project and the identification of holdings within the participating museums, the different chapters trace the excavations and collecting activities that brought these textiles from Egypt to northern England, while also providing an overview of textile production in ancient Egypt. The fibres employed by Egyptian weavers are examined alongside the techniques used in spinning, weaving, and decoration. The volume includes a chapter on scientific analysis, outlining methods used to identify fibres and investigate their manufacture. The discussion highlights challenges such as contamination, and the presence of mixed fibres within a single textile, demonstrating the need for caution when determining origin and composition. A detailed catalogue of the collections is accompanied by numerous colour photographs illustrating the craftsmanship of the surviving textiles.
Overall, the text successfully balances accessibility with scholarship. Technical aspects of textile production, conservation, and analysis are explained clearly without overwhelming the non-specialist reader. The research undertaken as part of the survey demonstrates the importance of scientific techniques in establishing the composition and provenance of textile samples, sometimes overturning conclusions previously based solely on visual examination.
This is a well-produced volume, which will be of interest to textile specialists, Egyptologists, museum professionals, and those interested in the material culture of ancient Egypt. As such, Weaving for Eternity forms a useful resource for the study of Egyptian textiles and deserves a wide readership.
REVIEW BY ROGER FORSHAW
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Weaving for Eternity: Ancient Egyptian Textiles – Significant Museum Collections in the North of England
edited by Rosalie David and Angela Thomas
Abercromby, 2026
ISBN 978-1-912246-33-5
Hardback, £44.95
