"It's a bit like the Duchess of Windsor's sale," a woman murmured reverentially inside Sybil Connolly's Merrion Square drawing-room earlier this week.
A similarly respectful hush pervaded the James Adam sale-rooms yesterday when the late designer's possessions - collectively entitled the Sybil Connolly Collection - were offered at auction.
For once, the term "a packed attendance" fails to do justice to the numbers who turned up to inspect the property and then bid for its contents.
Even with admission by catalogue only (£10), on the first day of viewing last Sunday an estimated 2,000 people passed through the Merrion Square rooms.
The majority of viewers had to queue patiently on the stairs for a chance to see the second-floor private apartments of Sybil Connolly, who died last May. Items on display there ranged from examples of the tableware she designed for Tiffany's of New York to the designer's own crucifix, a French carved ivory figure of Christ on a wooden cross with gilt brass mounts.
Yesterday afternoon, £2,400 - twice the expected price - was paid for the latter, just one of the 600-plus lots on offer during the course of what proved to be a very leisurely day.
The normal speed for disposal of lots is about 100 per hour.
The pace of this sale was distinctly slower, however, since so many of those present were clearly unfamiliar with the rituals of the auction room.
Starting at 10.30 a.m., it was after 7 p.m. before the final lot was sold.
While professional dealers and art gallery owners were in attendance, the number of private bidders, predominantly women, was higher than usual.
They filled both the first floor rooms, spilled out on to the hall and even down the stairs, with a handful taking a cigarette break outside on St Stephen's Green where the temperature and atmosphere were less overheated.
Back indoors, the figures being achieved frequently reflected sentimental rather than inherent values. Aside from a handful of disappointments - Sybil Connolly's portrait by Simon Elwes failed to find a buyer - every lot appeared to excite inordinate interest.
What was described in the sale catalogue as "an interesting collection of cushions", eight in all and expected to fetch no more than £300, eventually went for £1,000 above that figure; £1,400 was paid for a three-seater sofa covered in a Sybil Connolly glazed chintz (estimate £600£800); £1,600 for a box of Sybil Connolly sketches (estimate £100£200); and £440 for a bale of the designer's famous pleated linen in black (estimate £150£250).
Souvenir hunters hoping to pick up cheap bargains were doomed to disappointment as even a set of Simon Pearce champagne flutes more than doubled its expected price to go for £500 and a charming floral watercolour with a pre-sale estimate of £60£100 made £720.
With about £410,000 achieved for the day, it would seem that even after her death, Sybil Connolly continues to command high prices.