One 20-square-foot storage unit in Kent, a table of Jacobite portrait busts in the far north of Scotland, museum-grade Native American basketry on New Bond Street, and a Sussex saleroom full of brown furniture. Four very different UK auctions run across two days, 17 and 18 August 2026. Here’s what each one holds and how to bid.
What’s in the Rosan Reeves storage unit auction?
A storage-unit sale means buying the contents of a life you never met. Rosan Reeves Auctions is offering the full contents of a 20sqft Shurgard Self Storage unit at Courteney Road, Gillingham, Kent — sold as one lot, sight partly unseen, the way clearance dealers and house-clearance buyers have always liked it. Judge the stacked boxes, back your eye, and settle up fast.
The practicalities matter here. It is online only, closing Monday 17 August 2026 from 7:00pm (BST), and payment is by bank transfer only, within 24 hours of the sale — no exceptions, so have your account details ready before you bid. The auctioneers work from Arlington Road West, Hailsham, in East Sussex. Read the terms and gauge the contents on the Rosan Reeves storage unit listing, then open the live catalogue.
What’s in the Cheeky Auctions Highland sale?
This is my pick of the evening for sheer character. Cheeky Auctions of Tain runs “Auction 10 – Storied Highland Treasure”, antiques and collectables found in the Highlands and shipped worldwide. Scottish interest runs right through it: a pair of portrait busts of Charles Edward Stuart and Rob Roy McGregor, a trio of Scottish and Rover Scout enamel badges, a Gordon Highlanders badge paired with a Ronson Automatic lighter, and a 19th-century thistle glass fit for any Burns Night table.
Coin and jewellery buyers have plenty to chase. The gold includes a George V 1914 full sovereign and an Edward VII 1908 half sovereign, both mounted as pendants, plus a Victorian gold and carnelian fob seal and a gold kilt pin brooch. Rarer and rather lovely: a Pitcairn Island wooden pen holder signed by Lancy Christian, and a miniature hooded Orkney chair with a working base drawer — folk pieces with real storytelling pull.
- Gold coin pendants: 1914 George V sovereign, 1908 Edward VII half sovereign, and a 1910 pendant featuring Queen Victoria.
- Scottish interest: Charles Edward Stuart and Rob Roy busts, 19th-century thistle glass, silver heraldic and filigree brooches.
- Curios: Britains metal toy soldiers in an inlaid wooden box, Harefield studio stoneware tumblers, and Dr. Martens 1461 D’Antonio Renaissance-print shoes.
It is online only, closing Monday 17 August 2026 from 7:00pm (BST), run from Gladstone House, King Street, Tain. Factor in the 20% buyer’s commission when you set your top bid. See the full run on the Cheeky Auctions Highland listing, or browse more Scotland auctioneers on Auction Eagle.
What’s in the Bonhams Native American baskets and pottery sale?
For collectors of tribal and ethnographic art, this is the serious one. Bonhams presents “Fine Native American Baskets and Pottery from an I…”, a single-owner collection of the sort that comes to market once and rewards patient, informed bidding. Native American basketry and pottery are judged on weave tension, form and honest surface, and a coherent private collection like this often carries the kind of provenance later buyers cannot replicate.
The sale is online only, held Monday 17 August 2026 at 8:00pm (BST) from Bonhams’ flagship rooms at 101 New Bond Street in London. New to a house of this stature? Register early, read the condition reports closely, and set a firm limit. Start with the Bonhams Native American baskets listing, then follow through to the live catalogue for full lot detail and estimates.
What’s in the Watsons collectables and furniture auction?
The next morning, Watsons Auctions holds a general Collectables & Furniture Auction — the saleroom day that trade dealers and first-time bidders alike quietly rely on. Expect the usual rewarding mix: brown furniture at tempting prices, boxes of collectables, and the odd sleeper for anyone who does their homework the night before.
This one is online and in person, so you can bid live in the room or online. It runs at The Market, Burwash Road, Heathfield, in East Sussex, on Tuesday 18 August 2026 from 9:30am (BST). If you can reach Heathfield, viewing in person is the way to buy furniture with confidence — check joints, veneers and worm before you commit. See the catalogue via the Watsons collectables and furniture listing and the live saleroom link.
Ready to bid?
Four sales, four moods: a Kent storage gamble, Highland gold and folk curios, museum-quality basketry on New Bond Street, and a hands-on Sussex saleroom morning. Follow these houses on Auction Eagle to catch their next catalogues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK auctions are on this week?
Four. Rosan Reeves (storage unit) and Cheeky Auctions (Highland treasure) both close online on Monday 17 August 2026 from 7pm; Bonhams' Native American baskets sale follows at 8pm; and Watsons' collectables and furniture auction runs Tuesday 18 August at 9:30am.
When and where is the Cheeky Auctions Highland sale?
It closes online only on Monday 17 August 2026 from 7:00pm (BST), run from Gladstone House, King Street, Tain, in the Scottish Highlands. Lots ship worldwide.
Is there a buyer's premium at Cheeky Auctions?
Yes — 20% buyer's commission on the hammer price. Factor it into your maximum bid.
How do I pay for the Rosan Reeves storage unit auction?
By bank transfer only, within 24 hours of the sale. It is online only and closes Monday 17 August 2026 from 7pm, so have your bank details ready before bidding.
Can I bid in person at the Watsons auction?
Yes. The Watsons Collectables & Furniture Auction is online and in person, held at The Market, Burwash Road, Heathfield, East Sussex, on Tuesday 18 August 2026 from 9:30am (BST). Bid in the room or online.
What's in the Bonhams sale?
A fine single-owner collection of Native American baskets and pottery, sold online only on Monday 17 August 2026 at 8:00pm (BST) from Bonhams' 101 New Bond Street rooms in London.
