Gena Whitten often travels abroad, making stops in places like Paris, Venice, Dubai and London, all for the sake of a paperweight.

“During my travels if there are paperweights along the way, I’ll stop to see them,” the collector said.

The retired architect has talked with paperweight artists and dealers from New Zealand to New York and visited the “Celebrate the Paperweight” exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah, Wis. Her collection includes Baccarat, Clichy, Russian, Hungarian, Egyptian and modern Chinese pieces.

Whitten began collecting the small glass treasures in 1968 after visiting an exhibition of paperweights at a Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C.

“I was mesmerized by the little glass jewels at the Smithsonian with intricate millefiori designs, which immediately became my favorites,” she said. Millefiori, which translates to “one thousand flowers,” is a glasswork technique that results in distinctive decorative motifs that resemble flowers.

“The exhibit had classic French styles with flowers, butterflies, even snakes or turtles. … I immediately went to an antique shop, and there I found and bought my first paperweight for $15,” she said.

That millefiori paperweight from Murano, Italy, is still in her collection.

“I have since visited the island of Murano several times and have bought dozens of weights there,” she added. “It’s like a dream world when you look inside. It feels good to just pick them up and hold them.”

During her career as a Honolulu architect in the 1970s, Whitten worked on the remodeling of the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe. She now splits her time between homes in Texas, Colorado and Hawaii.

Her collection also is split among her three homes, with about 350 paperweights in Texas, 80 in Colorado and 50 in her Kahuku home. The most expensive cost $15,000.

“When I found eBay, my collection really started growing,” she said.

Whitten said she appreciates contemporary works, especially by American artists.

“I would love almost anything from David Graeber, Mayauel Ward, Rick Ayotte or Drew Ebelhare. Michael Hunter from Scotland is doing some very creative new work. He is coming to the next Texas Paperweight Association meeting. I will probably buy something of his,” she said.

Whitten is a member of the Paperweight Collectors of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the appreciation and collecting of glass paperweights.

“My fellow collectors agree it is an addiction. I have so many weights from travels to other countries,” she said. “When I am shopping I always look for unusual paperweights in any price level. Some of the cheaper ones are real treasures. Finding something typical of a culture, such as the painted ones from China, is exquisite.

“I never use a paperweight to hold down paper. Mine are all works of art.”

“Possessed” is an occasional series featuring Hawaii residents and their unique or fascinating collections. Tell us about your collection by calling 529-4778 or emailing features@staradvertiser.com.