The IPBA has a tradition of honoring our hard-working volunteers. The following awards were made at the Annual Meeting during our 2025 Annual Convention:
Shining Star: Juan Criville
Juanjo speaks like a historian, although he spent much of his life as a bank director. He is 77 years old and is a fan of antique fairs.
He started collecting at age 40 when his mother gave him about thirty bottles. “My grandfather traveled a lot,” his mother says, “and he would bring back perfumes for himself. The ladies kept them because they were very valuable, especially the French brands.”
His collection includes more than 2,000 bottles, 1,500 boxes of rice powder, more than 100 original brand catalogs, and period posters. One of its peculiarities of his collection is that the bottles and boxes have to be sealed. Much of the collection is photographed in 15 or 20 volumes. He posts daily on Facebook and Instagram in collectors groups.
A native of Spain, in 2018 he exhibited in Barcelona about the Spanish brand Parera. And in 2024 he exhibited at the Balenciaga museum with the theme “Perfumes in the time of Balenciaga”. He has participated in 2 IPBA conventions in Chicago and Washington. He has also graciously allowed a large part of his collection to be part of the IPBA Virtual Museum.
For all this dedication and enthusiasm we decided to award him our Shining Star.
Shining Star: Marilyn Schnormeier
It’s my absolute pleasure to present the Shining Star Award to someone who has infused our organization with grace, generosity, and a whole lot of heart — Marilyn Schnormeier.
As a two-term board member and regular volunteer, Marilyn brought dedication and quiet strength to meetings and events. Her volunteering is only matched by her legendary collection of novelty perfume bottles — most of which, we hear, are still packed away from her last move.
And let’s not forget — if there’s a Peter Noone song playing, Marilyn is never far behind. She truly is into something good — whether it’s serving our group, sharing her warmth, or simply being her lovely self.
Marilyn, thank you for being our Shining Star. You’ve left a lasting scent — and a lasting legacy.
Honors of the Association: Marsha Crafts
Marsha, I think you know that since 1994 the IPBA Board of Directors has awarded the Honors of the Association, our highest recognition to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and service to our organization. Today, Marsha, we are proud to honor you, and your dedication, passion, and generosity that has made a lasting impact on the IPBA.
You joined the IPBA in 1990, and quickly became an active valued member and dealer at our convention. At these conventions, your displays were legendary, always filled with dazzling DeVilbiss and Czechoslovakian perfume bottles. But more than that, you were always eager to share your knowledge and educate us on the nuances of these perfume bottles. Now I understand that you were born in Canada, but your fascination with perfume bottles began with your travels in Europe, and your eye for beauty and detail led you to fall in love with Art Deco and art glass. That passion deepened when you discovered DeVilbiss perfume bottles, captivated by the variety of glass treatments, techniques, and the craftsmanship, much of it from historic Czechoslovakian glassmakers.
Marsha, you balanced your scientific career and your collecting for many years before you became a full-time dealer (nearly 40 years ago). And you ran an antique shop in Key West, and you were a regular contributor at the Florida shows, especially the renowned Miami Beach show. With a background in microbiology, it is no surprise Marsha that you approached your collecting with a researcher’s precision and curiosity. In 2007 you compiled original DeVilbiss catalogs into a reference book that has become an invaluable resource, allowing collectors to identify and date these beautiful pieces with confidence.
Marsha, you just never say “NO”, whether it is putting together a presentation, delivering it yourself, or handing it off to someone else to deliver. You are always ready to help. You created that “Czech 101” presentation that we have on the IPBA YouTube channel, and you helped to form the Czech Specialty Group, and you led it for many, many years. Most recently you created an Art Deco presentation on Czech and DeVilbiss perfume bottles for our collaboration with the Art Deco Society of Washington, and Terri Chappell-Boyd had the pleasure of presenting it. But Marsha, it was you who made sure that she was grounded on the subject and was able to present it with authority.
Marsha, you have been a key contributor to our Treasures Found sessions at conventions, and a frequent writer for the Perfume Bottle Quarterly where you educated us on these wonderful bottles. During the 2021 virtual convention, you did that with your presentation on Czech bottles, and also that insightful article on Czechoslovakian fakes in the Summer 2021 PBQ. These are just a few of the examples of your lasting contributions.
Thank you for your unwavering generosity, your passion for perfume bottles and their history, and your tireless support of the IPBA. Your contributions have not only advanced our organization, but they have enriched the entire world of perfume bottle collecting.
Congratulations on this well-deserved honor.
