A fine collection of gold freedom boxes, all formerly belonging to the Duke of Leinster, is being offered for sale next week by Christie's in London.

Among the seven lots is this example of Limerick workmanship presented by that city's corporation to William, the second Duke in 1776.

Circular with reeded borders, the detachable lid is engraved with the seal of Limerick; inside carries the mark of George Halloran and the item is expected to fetch between £25,000 to £35,000 sterling. This is the highest of the estimates among the lots, all of which were sold by the eighth Duke of Leinster at Sotheby's in May 1984. The earliest of the boxes dates from around 1750 and carries the mark of William Currie of Dublin.

It was presented by the burghers of Kildare to James Fitzgerald who would later become first Duke of Leinster and is expected to make £15,000 to £25,000 at the auction.

Also, on the same occasion, two Irish gold thimbles are to be sold.

These were made around 1768 for presentation from Dublin's corporation of tailors to the Duke of Leinster and his son, the Marquess of Kildare.

The minutes of the tailor's guild show that in January 1768 a meeting was held in the hall still standing at which "it was unanimously resolved, that the Freedom of this Corporation be presented to the Most Noble James, Duke of Leinster, with a Gold Thimble,"The pair of thimbles are estimated to sell for £5,000 to £8,000. The auction takes place on Tuesday in the house's King Street beginning at 2.30 p.m.