Notable sales
Pieces acquired by leading museums and institutional collections worldwide
2025
Natural History Museum
London, United Kingdom
Enigmacursor, new species discovery
David Aaron is proud to announce the sale of a newly identified dinosaur species to the Natural History Museum, London. Initially identified as a Nanosaurus, this exceptional Late Jurassic skeleton has since been reclassified as a previously unknown species and genus, an Enigmacursor, which means “the enigmatic runner.” Excavated in 2021–22 in Colorado, the fossil attracted attention for its completeness, detail and size leading to the Museum's researchers to make the new discovery. The fossil is on display in the Museum's Earth Hall.
David Aaron is proud to announce the sale of a newly identified dinosaur species to the Natural History Museum, London. Initially identified as a Nanosaurus, this exceptional Late Jurassic skeleton has since been reclassified as a previously unknown species and genus, an Enigmacursor, which means “the enigmatic runner.” Excavated in 2021–22 in Colorado, the fossil attracted attention for its completeness, detail and size leading to the Museum's researchers to make the new discovery. The fossil is on display in the Museum's Earth Hall.
2026
Virginia Museum of Fine Art
Virginia, United States
Stele of Medeia
A remarkable example of a rare Greek stele exhibited by David Aaron at TEFAF Maastricht and subsequently acquired by a major US museum. The piece is one of very few surviving grave stelae dedicated to a parthenos – a young Athenian woman of marriageable age who has not yet wed. Dated to circa 375-350 B.C., the marble grave stele from the historic Attic region is exceptionally carved in high relief, depicting a young female figure with her right hand raised elegantly towards her shoulder. A single line of inscription in the architrave identifies the subject of the piece as a young girl called Medeia.
A remarkable example of a rare Greek stele exhibited by David Aaron at TEFAF Maastricht and subsequently acquired by a major US museum. The piece is one of very few surviving grave stelae dedicated to a parthenos – a young Athenian woman of marriageable age who has not yet wed. Dated to circa 375-350 B.C., the marble grave stele from the historic Attic region is exceptionally carved in high relief, depicting a young female figure with her right hand raised elegantly towards her shoulder. A single line of inscription in the architrave identifies the subject of the piece as a young girl called Medeia.
2026
Major US Museum
United States
Timurid Tomb Element for a Military Commander
A rare 15th-century alabaster Timurid cenotaph acquired by a major North American museum. Dated precisely to 20 Safar 893 AH (4 February 1488 AD), the cenotaph originates from the Timurid cultural sphere, most likely central Iran or Central Asia. The object is carved from a single block of translucent alabaster, a particularly rare material for this period. The object’s ornate relief decoration reflects the height of Timurid aesthetic refinement, particularly akin to examples associated with Afghanistan in the second half of the 15th century.
A rare 15th-century alabaster Timurid cenotaph acquired by a major North American museum. Dated precisely to 20 Safar 893 AH (4 February 1488 AD), the cenotaph originates from the Timurid cultural sphere, most likely central Iran or Central Asia. The object is carved from a single block of translucent alabaster, a particularly rare material for this period. The object’s ornate relief decoration reflects the height of Timurid aesthetic refinement, particularly akin to examples associated with Afghanistan in the second half of the 15th century.
2026
Major US Museum
United States
Young Nubian Woman
A free-standing hand-carved wooden female figure in striding pose, depicted in the nude, and delicately modelled. Her head is clean shaven, except for a circular tuft of hair on her crown – a hairstyle associated with Nubians, but also popular among young Egyptian women in the 18th Dynasty.
A free-standing hand-carved wooden female figure in striding pose, depicted in the nude, and delicately modelled. Her head is clean shaven, except for a circular tuft of hair on her crown – a hairstyle associated with Nubians, but also popular among young Egyptian women in the 18th Dynasty.
2025
Middle Eastern Museum
Middle East
Camptosaurus
A near-complete Camptosaurus skeleton acquired by a prominent museum in the Middle East, ensuring preservation and public display for generations to come. The specimen was the first complete dinosaur that David Aaron presented at an international art fair, at Frieze Masters 2022. The Camptosaurus, meaning ‘bent lizard’ referring to its flexible back, was a highly adaptable, medium-sized herbivore that roamed the lush landscapes of what is now western North America and Europe in the Late Jurassic period, 155–145 million years ago.
A near-complete Camptosaurus skeleton acquired by a prominent museum in the Middle East, ensuring preservation and public display for generations to come. The specimen was the first complete dinosaur that David Aaron presented at an international art fair, at Frieze Masters 2022. The Camptosaurus, meaning ‘bent lizard’ referring to its flexible back, was a highly adaptable, medium-sized herbivore that roamed the lush landscapes of what is now western North America and Europe in the Late Jurassic period, 155–145 million years ago.
2025
European Museum
Europe
Openwork Stag Plaque 
A large bronze plaque, possibly from a belt clasp acquire by a European museum, featuring a central motif of a stylised stag turning its head away from a small dog or fox standing on its front leg. The stag’s neck and back are curved into an S-shape, with the neck bending backwards over the slender waist.
A large bronze plaque, possibly from a belt clasp acquire by a European museum, featuring a central motif of a stylised stag turning its head away from a small dog or fox standing on its front leg. The stag’s neck and back are curved into an S-shape, with the neck bending backwards over the slender waist.
2025
Major US Museum
New York, United States
Griffin Protome
A Greek protome in the shape of a griffin, with a flanged base for attachment to the shoulder of a cauldron via the three rivets, acquired by a mjaor US institution. The sinuous serpentine neck leads to the head of an eagle, with a wide-open beak and pointed tongue.
A Greek protome in the shape of a griffin, with a flanged base for attachment to the shoulder of a cauldron via the three rivets, acquired by a mjaor US institution. The sinuous serpentine neck leads to the head of an eagle, with a wide-open beak and pointed tongue.
2024
Corning Museum of Glass
New York, United States
Mamluk Enamelled Glass Beaker
An exquisite Mamluk beaker adorned with enamelled court musicians acquired by the Corning Museum of Glass, New York - the preeminent museum globally dedicated to the art andhistory of glass. The exterior of the clear glass beaker is adorned with intricate enamel and gilt decoration. Blue, red, white, black, and green enamel is used to evoke a lively court scene of three seated musicians – one with a harp, one a lute, and another holding what may be a tambourine. The figures are divided by tall frond-like plants, and framed within a border of coursing hares above, and one of quatrefoils below, both picked out in blue.
An exquisite Mamluk beaker adorned with enamelled court musicians acquired by the Corning Museum of Glass, New York - the preeminent museum globally dedicated to the art andhistory of glass. The exterior of the clear glass beaker is adorned with intricate enamel and gilt decoration. Blue, red, white, black, and green enamel is used to evoke a lively court scene of three seated musicians – one with a harp, one a lute, and another holding what may be a tambourine. The figures are divided by tall frond-like plants, and framed within a border of coursing hares above, and one of quatrefoils below, both picked out in blue.
2024
Hollytrees Museum
Essex, United Kingdom
Juliasaurus
A 154-million-year-old Late Jurassic predator, sold by David Aaron to a private collector, is on display for the first time at the Hollytrees Museum in Essex. Nicknamed 'Juliasaurus', the specimen is one of the most important North American dinosaur fossil discoveries in recent years and represents the potential to discover a new species. The gallery has facilitated the loan to Hollytrees Museum which will coincide with the first opportunity to conduct research on the fossil.
A 154-million-year-old Late Jurassic predator, sold by David Aaron to a private collector, is on display for the first time at the Hollytrees Museum in Essex. Nicknamed 'Juliasaurus', the specimen is one of the most important North American dinosaur fossil discoveries in recent years and represents the potential to discover a new species. The gallery has facilitated the loan to Hollytrees Museum which will coincide with the first opportunity to conduct research on the fossil.
2024
Major US Museum
United States
Illustrated Constantinople Costume Manuscript
An exceptional late 18th-century manuscript, Costumi Turchi e Grechi fatti in Constantinopoli 1790, entered the collection of a major US museum. Acquired for the museum’s Department of Islamic Art, this complete and beautifully preserved album stands as an invaluable monument to the cross-cultural exchange, material mobility, and artistic pluralism that defined the late Ottoman Empire. Dating precisely to 1790 and produced in the imperial capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul), this manuscript provides a visual catalogue of the diverse societal fabric of the late Ottoman Empire.
An exceptional late 18th-century manuscript, Costumi Turchi e Grechi fatti in Constantinopoli 1790, entered the collection of a major US museum. Acquired for the museum’s Department of Islamic Art, this complete and beautifully preserved album stands as an invaluable monument to the cross-cultural exchange, material mobility, and artistic pluralism that defined the late Ottoman Empire. Dating precisely to 1790 and produced in the imperial capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul), this manuscript provides a visual catalogue of the diverse societal fabric of the late Ottoman Empire.
2024
Middle Eastern Museum
Middle East
Pachycephalosaurus Skull
An extraordinarily rare skull of Pachysephalosaurus, the ‘thick-skulled lizard’, which lived around 65-68 million years ago in the late Cretaceous period of North America, alongside some of the most iconic dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops. It is known from only one species, P. wyomingensis, the adult forms of which are only known from skull remains.
An extraordinarily rare skull of Pachysephalosaurus, the ‘thick-skulled lizard’, which lived around 65-68 million years ago in the late Cretaceous period of North America, alongside some of the most iconic dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops. It is known from only one species, P. wyomingensis, the adult forms of which are only known from skull remains.
2022
Corning Museum of Glass
New York, United States
Montataire Bowl
In 2022, David Aaron sold a rare example of an intact Gallo-Roman glass bowl which was discovered in a sarcophagus buried under a French chateau in 1849, to the Corning Museum of Glass. The pale green glass bowl, which survived in one piece for over 1,500 years, is divided into four panels by bands of applied glass in zigzag pattern. A hollow-blown claw decoration projects from the centre of each panel.
In 2022, David Aaron sold a rare example of an intact Gallo-Roman glass bowl which was discovered in a sarcophagus buried under a French chateau in 1849, to the Corning Museum of Glass. The pale green glass bowl, which survived in one piece for over 1,500 years, is divided into four panels by bands of applied glass in zigzag pattern. A hollow-blown claw decoration projects from the centre of each panel.
2021
Middle Eastern Museum
Middle East
Earthenware Storage Jar with a Turquoise Glaze
Vessels of this style have been found in a number of Early Islamic sites, including Samarra, Susa, Rosen-Ayalon, Hira, al-Mina Nishapur and Tarsus. The idea of monochrome, usually green, glazed moulded pottery jars like this one are among the oldest known from the Islamic period.
Vessels of this style have been found in a number of Early Islamic sites, including Samarra, Susa, Rosen-Ayalon, Hira, al-Mina Nishapur and Tarsus. The idea of monochrome, usually green, glazed moulded pottery jars like this one are among the oldest known from the Islamic period.
2020
Yorkshire Museum
York, United Kingdom
The Ryedale Bronze Hoard
A group of Romano-British bronzes found by metal detectorists in North Yorkshire were sold to the Yorkshire Museum, returning them to their original area of discovery. The group of finely modelled bronzes were first discovered by metal detectorists James Spark and Mark Didlick in May 2020 in a field near Ampleforth in Ryedale, North Yorkshire. The hoard is made up of a bust, most likely representing Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, a horse and rider, a handle in the form of a horse head, and a plumb bob – similar to an ancient spirit level. Prior to this discovery, very little material evidence of the Romans had been found in the region, giving this hoard great archaeological and historical significance.
A group of Romano-British bronzes found by metal detectorists in North Yorkshire were sold to the Yorkshire Museum, returning them to their original area of discovery. The group of finely modelled bronzes were first discovered by metal detectorists James Spark and Mark Didlick in May 2020 in a field near Ampleforth in Ryedale, North Yorkshire. The hoard is made up of a bust, most likely representing Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, a horse and rider, a handle in the form of a horse head, and a plumb bob – similar to an ancient spirit level. Prior to this discovery, very little material evidence of the Romans had been found in the region, giving this hoard great archaeological and historical significance.
2020
Glyptothek
Munich, Germany
Erotic Kylix
A red-figure kylix from 5th century B.C. decorated with an erotic scene acquired by the Glyptothek in Munich. A drinking cup in Ancient Greece, mostly used to sip watered-down wine at social gatherings called symposium where young men from the aristocratic society would enjoy music, dance, games, food and drinks. Sex played a central role and cups were often decorated with sexual scenes.
A red-figure kylix from 5th century B.C. decorated with an erotic scene acquired by the Glyptothek in Munich. A drinking cup in Ancient Greece, mostly used to sip watered-down wine at social gatherings called symposium where young men from the aristocratic society would enjoy music, dance, games, food and drinks. Sex played a central role and cups were often decorated with sexual scenes.
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