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Gentile Paperweights for Sale


The paperweights on this page are all the work of the Gentile Family.  The original glass worker in the family was Peter Gentile, born in Naples, Italy in 1884.  He worked in Naples (Italy), Rochester (Pennsylvania), and Morgantown (West Virginia) before building his own factory in Star City (West Virginia) in 1947.

His sons, Frankie, John and Joe Gentile helped him make paperweights in the off hours at the Guild Factory in Morgantown.   However, most paperweight production since WWII has been associated with Peter, John, or John's wife Gertrude Gentile.   Few weights were signed prior to 1963.  John Gentile passed away in 2006 and it is believed that Gentile Glass closed down after his death.  Most, if not all, paperweights produced from 1975 on were signed.

For more information, you can read about the Gentiles in the book  American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970).   For some great references on paperweights, check out my list of paperweight books for sale.

If you would like to purchase any of these paperweights, e-mail me at: aport@paperweights.com
 
 
2276 Vintage American "FROM A FRIEND" Frit Paperweight - Probably Made by Gentile Glass.  circa 1900-1974.  This frit paperweight features a "FROM A FRIEND" message in white frit with an outer wreath garland.  The design is placed over a multi-colored ground of larger glass chips.  A great gift item to raise a friend's spirits.  This example in unsigned but I suspect it was made at Gentile Glass in Star City, West Virginia based on the shape and bottom finish.  An identical example of the paperweight and the die used to produce the design are shown in American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers (1970) by Jean Melvin (see pages 69 - 71).  This is a great addition to any collection of American paperweights.

The Melvin book mentions that the motto weights like the "FROM A FRIEND" paperweight were popular items sold to distributors and gift shops throughout the US and Canada.  The dies were originally used by Peter Gentile when he worked at the Fry Factory in Rochester, NY and continued to be used by the Gentile factory once they started their own factory.

This style of paperweight was made by many glass companies throughout the glass producing areas of the midwestern US (Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, or even New Jersey) in the first half of the 20th century and later.  Frit refers to the powdered glass used to make the design.  The design is set up in a metal die and then picked up with a gather of a ground color.  Sometimes the maker can be identified by researching the mold or die used to set up the design.  According to Newell's Old Glass Paperweights of Southern New Jersey , frit weights were made as early as 1863.  Newell identifies this style as a true folk art.

The original glass worker in the Gentile family was Peter Gentile, born in Naples, Italy in 1884.  He worked in Naples(Italy), Rochester (Pennsylvania), and Morgantown (West Virginia) before building his own factory in Star City (West Virginia) in 1947.  Originally the factory was a short-lived partnership (G. and F. Glass Co.) with John Funfrock, a mold maker.  His sons, Frankie, John and Joe Gentile helped him make paperweights in the off hours at the Guild Factory in Morgantown.  However, most paperweight production since WWII has been associated with Peter, John, or John's wife Gertrude Gentile.  Few weights were signed prior to 1963.  John Gentile passed away in 2006 and it is believed that Gentile Glass closed down after his death.  Most, if not all, paperweights produced from 1975 on were signed.  For more information, you can read about the Gentile Family in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970).

Large Size:  3 5/16" diameter by 2 3/4" high.  The base is fire finished.
Signature :  Unsigned, but I believe this was made by Gentile Glass prior to 1975..
Condition :  Very good condition.  There are some faint scratches and scuff marks, but no significant damage.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Base
Side view
Closeup
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Vintage American "FROM A FRIEND" Frit Paperweight - Probably Made by Gentile Glass
5696 Gentile Glass Spaced Millefiori on Lace Paperweightsigned with the pontil stamp used in 1979.  This paperweight features a concentric millefiori pattern on a lace ground.  There are six Murano made millefiori canes arranged in a circle around a center cane.  The design is placed on a bed of twist canes and colored strands.  Under this lace ground is a multi-colored frit ground.  Gentile obtained their millefiori canes from a distributor of Murano millefiori canes.  The paperweight is signed on the base with the hot pontil stamp used in 1979 which says "GENTILE GLASS W. VA." and has a star with a "C" in the center for Star City, West Virginia.  A fun item.  

The original glass worker in the Gentile family was Peter Gentile, born in Naples, Italy in 1884.  He worked in Naples(Italy), Rochester (Pennsylvania), and Morgantown (West Virginia) before building his own factory in Star City (West Virginia) in 1947.  His sons, Frankie, John and Joe Gentile helped him make paperweights in the off hours at the Guild Factory in Morgantown.   However, most paperweight production since WWII has been associated with Peter, John, or John's wife Gertrude Gentile.  Few weights were signed prior to1963.  It is believed that Gentile Glass remained in production until 2006.  Most, if not all, paperweights produced from 1975 on were signed. For more information, you can read about the Gentiles in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970)

Size:  2 11/16" diameter by 2 7/16" high.  The base is fire finished with the pontil stamp signature in the center. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.  I found one tiny rough area next to the base which seems to be a spot of extra glass.
Signature:  The paperweight is signed on the base with the hot pontil stamp used in 1979 which says "GENTILE GLASS W. VA." and has a star with a "C" in the center for Star City (West Virginia).  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Hot stamp signature on base
Side view
Profile
Closeup
Another side view
Base
$49 postage paid in the US.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Gentile Glass Spaced Millefiori on Lace Paperweight
5174 Magnum Peter Gentile Three Color Swirl and Bubble Paperweight.  circa 1950-1970.  This design was first developed by Peter Gentile in the 1940s and was continued in the Gentile family product line in subsequent years.  This is an especially nice example with a three color swirl made from six rods of green, blue, and yellow.  In the center is a controlled bubble swirl pattern and a carefully placed large tear shaped bubble on top.  This is an exceptionally large example worthy of any collection of paperweights. 

The original glass worker in the Gentile family was Peter Gentile, born in Naples, Italy in 1884.  He worked in Naples(Italy), Rochester (Pennsylvania), and Morgantown (West Virginia) before building his own factory in Star City (West Virginia) in 1947.  His sons, Frankie, John and Joe Gentile helped him make paperweights in the off hours at the Guild Factory in Morgantown.  However, most paperweight production since WWII has been associated with Peter, John, or John's wife Gertrude Gentile.  Few weights were signed prior to 1963.  It is believed that Gentile Glass remained in production until 2006.  Most, if not all, paperweights produced from 1975 on were signed.  For more information, you can read about the Gentiles in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970)

Very Large Size:  3 3/8" diameter by just under 3 1/2" high.  The base is polished concave with a remainder of the pontil mark.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this is a genuine Gentile paperweight. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks or scratches.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture of the paperweight
Closeup view
Base
Profile view
Top view
SOLD.  

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Peter Gentile Three Color Swirl and Bubble Paperweight
6034
Magnum Gentile Glass Frit Butterfly Paperweight.  circa 1950-1974.  This paperweight features a frit (ground glass) butterfly and flower surrounded by a controlled pattern of bubbles.  The wings of the butterfly are made with a speckled mixture of blue and white frit.  The body and antennae are made with black frit.  The flower was made with red and white frit and has the center pushed down to form a stem.  This design was set up in a metal die having the butterfly and flower design and then finished by adding the bubbles with a larger mold.  It is unsigned but I guarantee this was made at Gentile Glass in Star City, West Virginia.  An especially nice example.

According to Jean Melvin's 1970 book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers, this design was patented by John Funfrock in 1948.  Funfrock made the die (mold) and Peter Gentile made the first paperweights with this design.  At the time, Peter Gentile and John Funfrock were partners in the G. and F. Glass Co.  The earliest design had the butterfly hovering over a flower.  The paperweight is made by arranging ground glass with the desired colors in a die with depressions for the wings, body, and flower.  The design is then picked up with a gather of clear glass and finished into a paperweight.  The bubbles are added by pressing the nearly finished paperweight into a larger mold with points where the bubbles are to be.  You can see a picture of the mold used in Melvin's book. 

The original glass worker in the Gentile family was Peter Gentile, born in Naples, Italy in 1884.  He worked in Naples(Italy), Rochester (Pennsylvania), and Morgantown (West Virginia) before building his own factory in Star City (West Virginia) in 1947.  Originally the factory was a short-lived partnership (G. and F. Glass Co.) with John Funfrock, a mold maker.  His sons, Frankie, John and Joe Gentile helped him make paperweights in the off hours at the Guild Factory in Morgantown.  However, most paperweight production since WWII has been associated with Peter, John, or John's wife Gertrude Gentile.  Few weights were signed prior to 1963.  John Gentile passed away in 2006 and it is believed that Gentile Glass closed down after his death.  Most, if not all, paperweights produced from 1975 on were signed.  For more information, you can read about the Gentile Family in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970). 

Very large size:  3 5/16" diameter by 3 1/4" high.  The base is ground concave.
Signature:  Unsigned as was typical for Gentile paperweights made before 1975.  I guarantee this was made at Gentile Glass in Star City, West Virginia.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks or scratches.  There is a small rough area at the edge of the base from a bit of extra glass.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
$49 postage paid in the US.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Gentile Glass Frit Butterfly Paperweight

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