A vintage electric guitar, a Masonic gold ring, a case of someone’s carefully cellared claret and a tinplate toy that has outlived its first owner — all under the hammer on the same Tuesday morning. Four UK auctions open at 10:00 am BST today, 18 August 2026, from Dundee down to Berkshire. Here are the sales worth your morning.
What’s in the Curr & Dewar Collectors & Interiors sale?
Up in Dundee, Curr & Dewar have assembled the sort of mixed sale that rewards a slow read of the catalogue. The Collectors & Interiors Auction spans jewellery, silver, furniture and the lot that will pull the crowd — a collection of electric guitars.
There is real depth for the jewellery buyer: Masonic rings and medals, gold watches with a gold watch Albert, and diamond, opal and other gem-set rings. Masonic material tends to draw a passionate niche, so expect the rings and medals to run hard. Add silver and EPNS, carpets and rugs, paintings and mirrors, plus a run of antique, mid-century and modern furniture, and you have a sale for anyone furnishing a home or restocking a shop.
- Electric guitars — a whole collection, one for the musician-collector.
- Masonic rings and medals, plus gold watches and a gold Albert chain.
- Gem-set rings in diamond, opal and other stones.
- Garden ornaments — well timed if you want statuary in the border before autumn.
When and where: Tuesday 18 August 2026, 10:00 am BST, at 16a Tom Johnston Rd, Dundee, DD4 8XD. The sale runs online and in the room. How to bid: bid live or leave commission bids through the EasyLive catalogue. For more sales north of the border, see our Scotland auctions hub.
What’s in the Ellis Willis & Beckett online sale?
In Sheffield, Ellis Willis & Beckett hold their Antiques and Collectibles Online Auction today, and the headline is wine. A single-owner collection was uploaded to the catalogue the day before the sale, so if a well-kept cellar is your thing, this is the lot list to keep refreshing.
Single-owner wine is worth a look because the provenance is clean — one seller, one cellar — which matters when you are buying bottles to drink rather than to speculate on. Around the wine sits the house’s usual spread of antiques and collectibles, making this a sensible sale for a first-time bidder to cut their teeth on.
When and where: Tuesday 18 August 2026, 10:00 am BST, at 178 Broadfield Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S8 0XL. Online and in person, with viewing the day before on Monday 17 August, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. How to bid: browse and bid via the live catalogue, and find more South Yorkshire auctioneers on Auction Eagle.
What’s in the Brettells Collectables & General sale?
Over in Shropshire, Brettells Auctioneers & Valuers run their Collectables & General sale as a combined internet and live-attendance auction. It is the classic general sale, where the fun is in not knowing quite what will surface and where dealers and collectors sit side by side chasing the same trays.
It pays to know the drill here. Viewing is the Monday prior only, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you cannot get there, ask for condition reports through your bidding platform — a habit every collector should keep. You must register with the platform to bid online, or lodge written commission bids beforehand via the Brettells website or email; none are taken on sale day. Collections run as strict click-and-collect (Mon–Fri, 9–5), with an in-house shipping service for small, unbreakable items such as jewellery.
When and where: Tuesday 18 August 2026, 10:00 am BST, at 58 High Street, Newport, Telford, Shropshire, TF10 7AQ. How to bid: bid online or in the room through the live catalogue. For more Shropshire sales, see our regional hub.
What’s in the Special Auction Services toy sale?
The big one for the collector: Special Auction Services in Berkshire present a two-day Toys for the Collector Auction. SAS are one of the most respected names in the toy and model trade, and a two-day format tells you the sheer volume on offer — a destination sale for anyone who collects seriously.
Toy sales at this level bring out the passion buyers: the diecast and tinplate faithful, the model-railway crowd, the vintage-plaything enthusiasts who know exactly which box and which finish they are still missing. Whether you are completing a shelf or buying a childhood back, plan your bidding around the two-day run.
When and where: the sale opens Tuesday 18 August 2026, 10:00 am BST, at Plenty Close, off Hambridge Road, Newbury, Berkshire. Online and in person, with viewing by appointment only, Thursday 6 to Monday 17 August, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays. How to bid: see the full lot list and bid on the the-saleroom catalogue, and find more Berkshire auctions on Auction Eagle.
Ready to bid?
Four sales, one morning, and a genuine spread — guitars and gold in Dundee, single-owner wine in Sheffield, a general rummage in Shropshire and two days of toys in Berkshire. Follow these houses on Auction Eagle to catch their next catalogues, register early with each bidding platform, and browse more upcoming UK auctions before the hammer falls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK auctions are on today, 18 August 2026?
Four sales open at 10:00 am BST: Curr & Dewar (Dundee), Ellis Willis & Beckett (Sheffield), Brettells Auctioneers & Valuers (Newport, Shropshire) and Special Auction Services (Newbury, Berkshire). All run online and in person.
When and where is the Special Auction Services toy sale?
The two-day Toys for the Collector Auction starts Tuesday 18 August 2026 at 10:00 am BST at Plenty Close, off Hambridge Road, Newbury, Berkshire, online and in person. Viewing was by appointment only, 6–17 August.
How do I bid at Brettells Auctioneers & Valuers?
Register with the online platform to bid live, or lodge written commission bids beforehand via the Brettells website or email — none are taken on sale day. Viewing is the Monday prior only, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
What's in the Curr & Dewar sale in Dundee?
The Collectors & Interiors Auction includes a collection of electric guitars, Masonic rings and medals, gold watches and a gold Albert, diamond and opal gem-set rings, silver and EPNS, rugs, garden ornaments, paintings and furniture from antique to modern.
Is there wine in the Ellis Willis & Beckett auction?
Yes. Their Antiques and Collectibles Online Auction in Sheffield features a single-owner wine collection, uploaded to the catalogue shortly before the sale, alongside general antiques. Viewing was Monday 17 August, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Can I bid online at all four auctions?
Yes, every sale runs online and in person. Curr & Dewar, Ellis Willis & Beckett and Brettells use EasyLive Auction; Special Auction Services list on the-saleroom.com. Register with the relevant platform before bidding.
