1910
The gallery is formerly established in Isfahan, Iran. The gallery sets out to deal exclusively in Persian and Islamic Works of art.
1922
The Late Soleiman Haroon (1890-1976) begins travelling extensively throughout the Middle East and Europe to source artworks. This photograph is taken in Egypt in July 1922, just a few months before Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb.
1939
The gallery quickly develops a good reputation as the advisers to The Royal Pahlavi Family among others such as King Farough of Egypt on their art collection. The photograph is taken at the wedding of Mohammed Reza to Princess Fawzia Fuad on 15 March 1939 in Alexandria.
1950
The gallery relocates to Tehran and leases a 5,000 square foot building on Ferdowsi Avenue. The gallery becomes a meeting point for artists, diplomats, collectors and Institutions. Clients included Pablo Picasso, Henri de Malrome, J. Paul Getty among many others during this period.
1971
The Gallery is invited to stage an exhibition on 12-16th October 1971 on the occasion of the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of the Imperial State of Iran and Persian Empire. The celebrations were intended to demonstrate Iran’s history and contemporary advancements. There were 6000 guests most of which were high ranking Diplomats and 60 Royals and Heads of States. The gallery was the only such gallery invited to exhibit.
1975
The gallery plays an instrumental role in helping to develop public collections of Islamic and Near Eastern Art in the Far East, particularly in Japan.
1978
In 1978, renowned Japanese novelist Seicho Matsumoto (1909-1992) visited David Aaron at his father’s gallery based on the prestigious Ferdowsi Street, Tehran. This photograph is taken from a feature length documentary on ‘Ancient History’ produced by NHK in collaboration with the author. There was great interest at the time in international art history and the Japanese broadcasting corporation commissioned many documentaries tracing the ancient history of the Near East and neighbouring Silk Road nations. Mostly known for his dramatic crime fictions and detective novels, Seicho Matsumoto had an affinity with Iran, writing ‘Road of Fire between Ancient Persia and Japan’ in 1975, a novel which explores the cultural relationship between ancient Persia and Japan by assessing the unique religions and ancient sites left by Iran. In 1979/80, after his visit to Iran and based on many of his experiences, he published "From Persepolis to Asuka.
1981
The gallery relocates to Bruton Street in Mayfair, London, and becomes well known for hosting regular exhibitions, talks and lectures on Persian and Islamic Art.
1998
The gallery, now formally known as 'David Aaron' relocates to its current location on 22 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London. Berkeley Square has become known as an art district in Mayfair. Our neighbors include Gasgosian Gallery and Phillips Contemporary. The square also hosts various art exhibitions throughout the year including the Lapada Fair and PAD Design.
Over the century the gallery has played an active role in helping to assemble some of the most well-known and widely referenced private collections. Providing expert consultation and acquisition services to both established and new collectors. Previous clients have included The Metropolitan Museum of Art, J. Paul Getty Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Louvre Museum, and Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar, The Aga Khan Museum, David Collection of Islamic Art, Pergamon Museum, Miho Museum and the Tokyo National Museum among others.
2022
In January 2022 the gallery moved to 25a Berkeley Square, just a stones throw away from its previous location. Housed within an award-winning Grade II listed building, originally designed by Frank Verity in 1906 and recently redeveloped.
With over 4000 square feet and spaced over three floors, the new gallery is over twice the size of the former location at 22 Berkeley Square.
Today, the gallery is managed by the third and fourth generation in this family business. Based in Berkeley Square, Mayfair in the heart of London’s art district and specialising in a variety of ancient art from various cultures including Near Eastern (Elamite, Achaemenid, Bactrian, Luristan, Amlash, Sasanian, Parthian, Phoenician), Indian (Ghandaran, Gangetic), Islamic (Seljuq, Timurid, Mamluke), Qajar, South Arabia (Sabean), Classical (Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Etruscan, Daunian), Egyptian (Dynastic, Islamic and Coptic) and European (Viking, Migration) to name but a few.
