Perfume Bottle Association planning gala in Chicago

CHICAGO — The International Perfume Bottle Association convention convenes on May 2, 2019 at the Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca, Illinois and extends through Sunday, May 5. Hundreds of perfume bottle and vintage vanity collectors gather to teach and learn, buy and sell, socialize and especially this year — to celebrate.

Members have many opportunities to share and learn more about vanity collectibles on Thursday at informal table talks as well as a panel discussion on perfume bottles through the ages. On Friday, seminar topics include: Art Deco Symposium, Ephemera, Czechoslovakian exports, and Mesh Purses.

Friday activities include a book signing from 3-5 p.m., featuring the highly esteemed, and former IPBA keynote speaker, Annette Green, “The Woman Who Brought the Industry to its Senses.” (Dog Ear Publishers). Her book, “Spritzing to Success,” is the story of her 40 year journey to build the fragrance industry – giving history and inside stories of the process. Green will be among several author-members with books on hand to sign.

The IPBA Convention is the venue for the International Perfume Bottle Auction organized and conducted since 2009, by author, collector, and renowned expert, Ken Leach with Antiques Roadshow celebrity Nicholas Dawes as the engaging auctioneer. Bids range from $100 to thousands with the audience of conventioneers, telephone and internet bidders competing for rare and beautiful items. Open to the public, this event begins with the preview at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 3; the auction starts promptly at 5 p.m. Items can be viewed online at www.perfumebottlesauction.com.

For those who wish to buy or to sell, the Vintage Vanity Showroom officially opens on Thursday night and is open at selected times daily throughout the convention. Dealers showcase incredible vanity wares. On display in the show room as well are the finalists in the Perfume Bottle Design Contest, an exhibit only case of items selected by local members, and raffle treasures that go to lucky entries on Saturday afternoon.

The public is invited to many of the Saturday events, beginning with the Collectors’ Market from 9-11 a.m., which is a flea market styled sale room filled with tables and collector-vendors. It is immediately followed by an educational presentation, Collecting Vanity Items 101 with moderator, Elizabeth Arden expert, Terri Chappell-Boyd. The formal showroom is open to the public from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

At 2:30 p.m., the buses load for the long awaited and anticipated members-only Gala Event, the Grand Opening of the Perfume Passage. The Perfume Passage is an Art Deco wing added to the Sanfilippo estate home. Among its features are a “Paris avenue” flanked by designer perfume shop windows, an authentic, re-homed vintage drug store and ice cream parlor. A massive Art Deco display room houses the perfume and vanity museum. Events will include the opening ceremony, dinner, tours of the museum and the estate Carousel House. Guests are encouraged to dress in the early 20th century style for our “Opening Night.”

Sunday morning begins with a plated breakfast and members’ business meeting, followed by Treasures Found. Members bring mystery items to show, learn from, and sometimes stump the panel of experts. An interactive event, all learn from each other. The convention ends with the showroom again open from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Questions? Check out the website www.perfumebottles.org or call Verna Kocken, 541-736-5180 or e-mail vicepresident@perfumebottles.org. 

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