Gentile Paperweights for Sale
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. 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). 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
| 68 | Unsigned Gentile Swirl Paperweight made from Sandwich Glass fragments.
circa 1970. When the site of the former Boston and Sandwich Glass
Company was excavated, glass fragments were offered to glass workers to
be used in creating contemporary pieces. A special label was printed
for this use. Some of the labels identify the glass workers, while
others do not.
Large Size: 3 3/8" diameter by 3" high. Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. Although unsigned, I am confident that this was made by Gentile Glass. $85 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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Vintage Magnum Gentile Faceted Flying Goose Frit Paperweight. circa
1947-1975. This paperweight features a white and orange frit (ground
glass) flying goose flying over a ground of controlled bubbles in clear
glass. It is faceted with one top facet and five side facets.
The design was patented in 1948 and the paperweight was probably made between
1947 and 1975. A large dramatic setup. It is unusual to find a faceted
example like this, so this is a special paperweight.
This is one of trademark paperweights of the Gentile family. It is shown and described in the book on American Glass Paperweights and their Makers by Jean Melvin. The design was patented by John Funfrock of Morgantown, West Virginia in 1948 and first made by Peter Gentile. You can look up the Funfrock patent if you wish: Patent D149117 issued to John Funfrock on March 30, 1948. Large Size: 3 1/8” wide at the widest point by 2 5/8” high.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight$95 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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Vintage Magnum Gentile Glass Icepick Paperweight. circa 1947-1974.
This paperweight features five yellow and white colored ice-pick flowers
over a multi-colored ground. As is typical of this style, there is
a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower. A large very
showy paperweight with great color.
This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem. The picture does not do justice to this paperweight. Ignore the white areas, they are glare from the lights. Very Large Size: 3 1/8" diameter by just under 2 5/8" high.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweightSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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Super Magnum Gentile Calla Lily Dooorstop Paperweight, attributed
to Gertrude Gentile. circa 1970. Very large paperweight
featuring three blue calla lilly type icepick flowers over a white ground.
There is a large elongated central bubble in the center of each flower
and also between each flower. When a paperweight is this large it
is generally called a doorstop. A truly magnificent paperweight.
This style has been attributed to Gertrude Gentile. A similar example is shown in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to form each flower and push the glass down to the ground to form a stem. Very Large Size: 4 1/4" diameter by 5" high.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight$175 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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Signed Gentile Swirl Paperweight. c.1979.
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, white, and pink. In the center is a controlled bubble pattern
and there is a carefully placed bubble on top.
Large Size: 2 7/8" diameter by 3 1/4" high. Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. Signed with a hot stamped signature on the bottom "GENTILE GLASS W.VA." with a Star and a C in the center (Star City). circa 1979. SOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 2545 | Signed John Gentile JFK Paperweight. c.1963. This
is a relatively rare plaque weight by John Gentile. The picture is
printed on an enamel plaque and placed over a red, white, and blue frit
ground. It is signed 1963 JG on the bottom of the plaque and there
is an opening in the ground so the signature can be viewed from the bottom
as well as from the side. This weight is mentioned (but not pictured)
in the 1967 edition (page 66) and 1970 edition (page 74) of the Melvin
book.
Large Size: 3 1/4" diameter by just under 2 3/4" high. Signed 1963 JG. Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. $85 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 215 | Signed John Gentile Butterfly Paperweight. c.1964.
This is a rare millefiori butterfly weight with a clear ground. Most
butterfly designs were done in frit (ground glass), but this one was done
a frit body and millefiori wings. These weights were set up in a
metal die with the butterfly design. This is a patent design originally
patented by John J. Funfrock in 1948. Both the weight and the die
used are described in the Melvin book.
The picture is darker than the actual weight. If you look at the linked larger picture, I try to show a close-up of the frit signature "JG" which visible from the bottom right between the body and antennae. Large Size: 3 1/2" diameter by 2" high. Signed in frit "JG". Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. SOLD Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 2193 | Gentile Flying Goose Paperweight. c.1976. This is
one of trademark paperweights of the Gentile family. It is shown
and described in the Jean Melvin mentioned above. The design was
patented by John Funfrock of Morgantown, West Virginia in 1948 and first
made by Peter Gentile. However, this weight is more modern and was
made in 1976.
Additional note: For those who are looking for the Funfrock patent, you should look up Patent D149117 issued to John Funfrock on March 30, 1948. Large Size: Just under 3 1/4" diameter by 3 1/16" high. Hot stamped with the Gentile 1976 bicentennial signature of a Liberty Bell with a G and 1976. Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. SOLD Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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Revised 6/6/2014
