A COLLECTION of artwork and furniture owned by a true glamour girl of her age is going under the hammer in Dorchester .

Items collected by Lady Marian Rootes, who was considered by many to be the most beautiful woman of her generation, are up for sale after she died in her 90s.

The collection includes a still life painting by Sir Matthew Smith, which is expected to fetch more than £30,000, as well as other artworks.

Furniture lots at the sale at Duke’s in Dorchester on Thursday and Friday include an 18th century Rococo mirror frame and a George III Serp-entine commode that may have been made by the renowned furniture designer Thomas Chippendale.

There are several hundred lots going under the hammer and the county town auctioneers believe the collection will fetch a six figure sum.

Lady Marian was married to the son of Billy Rootes, who founded the car firm Rootes Motors in 1913 and provided vehicles for the rich and famous such as Winston Churchill.

Two generations of the wealthy family collected art to decorate their estates at Glenalmond in Scotland and Ramsbury Manor in Wiltshire.

The family homes were later sold and Lady Marian moved into another property in Wiltshire, along with her favourite artwork and items of furniture.

Duke’s auctioneer Guy Schwinge said: “Lady Marian had an unerring eye for quality and had a collection full of glamorous objects which expressed her unique style.

“The spectacular 18th century Rococo mirror from her drawing room is a masterpiece of English furniture.

“And her George III Serpentine commode could be by Chippendale himself.

“Lady Marian was considered by many to be the most beautiful woman of her generation and objects from her home express her glamour and give an insight into her gilded life. The Rootes were one of the industrial dynasties of the 20th century and their rise was meteoric. They went from zero to peerage in a very short space of time.

“Billy Rootes was the Henry Ford of the UK.”

For more information contact Duke’s on 01305 265080 or email enquiries@dukes-auctions.com