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
 

3689	Large Gentile Glass Paperweight Pen Holder.  circa 1950-1975.  This paperweight pen holder features a red, white, and yellow center core surrounded by a layer of controlled bubbles.  There are four receptacles for pens and pencils.  The paperweight is unsigned but is definitely a product of Gentile Glass from Star City, WV.  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).  Large Size:  3 1/8" diameter by 3 3/8" high.  The center of the base is ground.  Condition:  Very good condition although it has a small 1/4" chip on the base where the pontil used to be.  No other chips or cracks or scratches were found.   Signature:  Unsigned but this is definitely a Gentile Glass product.   For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight Profile View Top View Another view Base with 1/4" chip in center $49 postage paid in the US.         Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
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
3520	Gentile Glass 1980 Frit Butterfly Paperweight.  dated 1980.  This paperweight features a frit (ground glass) butterfly surrounded by a controlled arrangement of bubbles.  The wings of the butterfly are made with a speckled mixture of blue frit.  The body and antennae are made with yellow frit.  This design was set up in a metal die having the butterfly design and then finished by adding the bubbles with a larger mold.  It is signed on the base with a 1980 pontil stamp having the outline of West Virginia and the letter G where Star City is located.  An 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).  Large Size:  2 15/16" diameter by 2 15/16" high.  The base is finished with a pontil stamp. Signature:  Signed with the pontil stamp used only in 1980.  It has the outline of West Virginia and the letter G where Star City is located. 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 Pontil stamp signature on base Profile view Side view Base SOLD.    Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image

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