The Society has held annual conventions since the first event in New York City, September of 1969. Three conventions have been held in New York City as well as all other major cities in the United States such as: Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and many other cities.
The international venues have included three conventions in Beijing, three in Canada, one in Dublin, five in Hong Kong, four in London, one in Paris, one in Singapore, one in Taipei, and one in Xian.
Our 57th annual convention in Toronto, Canada will take place from
Tuesday, October 14 to Saturday, October 18, 2025
HQs: The Omni King Edward Hotel, 37 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1E9
(CN $360= US $265)
Preliminary program
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
11:00 a.m. - Opening of Dealers’ Room, Lower Level, Windsor Room AB
11:00 - 2:00 p.m. – Registration – Foyer on Lower Level
3:00 p.m. – Afternoon Tea, Welcome Reception, Sovereign Ballroom
4:30 p.m. - Opening lecture by Ning Wang, scholar and dealer, Windsor Room C
“A Selection of Snuff Bottles from the ROM and Imperial Collections”
Questions and Answers
6:00-7:00 p.m. – New Members’ meeting, Windsor Room C
Evening Free, Dealers’ Room open until 10 p.m.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
8:30 a.m. - Dealers’ Room open, Windsor Room AB
Luncheon on your own
1:00 p.m. – Depart for the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Greetings by Adam Levine, curator.
2:00-3:30 p.m. - Lecture by Robert Hall and Prof. Stuart Sargent (with written Chinese translation
funded by Thomson Corporation), AGO Auditorium
“The Thomson Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles”
Questions and Answers
3:30-4:15 p.m. - Inside-painting demonstration by Jinpeng Wang, AGO Auditorium on stage
4:30-6:00 p.m. - Groups of 35 persons will alternate walking through the AGO storage area in the meeting room to handle additional Thomson snuff bottles (20 minutes per handling session).
6:15 p.m. - Coaches depart AGO (AGO open till 8pm)
6:45 p.m. – Arrive at Waddington’s Auctioneers and Appraisers for reception and refreshments. Snuff
bottles on display and other arts for a special exhibition
6:45 p.m. – Welcoming remarks at Waddington’s
7:45 p.m. – Coaches return to King Edward Hotel
Remainder of evening free, Dealers’ Room open until 10 p.m.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
8:30 a.m. - Dealers’ room open – Windsor Room AB
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. – Members’ meeting, Windsor Room C
12 noon - Coaches depart for luncheon at Pearl Chinese Harbourfront Restaurant (hosted by Toronto ICSBS members)
2:00 p.m. – Coaches depart for Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Greetings by Dr. Chen Shen, co-chief curator of Asian art
Viewing of ROM snuff bottles in storage area in groups of 30 persons
4:00 p.m. - Depart ROM for walk to the Gardiner Museum (across the street)
Greetings by Dr. Karine Tsoumis, curator
5:30 p.m. – Coaches depart Gardiner Museum for King Edward Hotel
Free evening, Dealers’ Room open until 10 p.m.
Friday, October 17, 2025
8:30 a.m. - Dealers’ Room open, Windsor Room AB
9:30 – 10:00 a.m. – Viewing of auction items for the ICSBS Educational Fund
10:00 - 12:30 p.m. – Benefit Auction led by Robert Hall, auctioneer
Luncheon at leisure in hotel
1:30 – 2:15 p.m. – Seminar led by S.L. Tan, “Analyzing Snuff Bottles and the Marketplace”, Windsor Room C
2:30 p.m. - Dealers’ Room – Refreshments and viewing Toronto collectors’ exhibition and dealers’ bottles, Windsor Room AB
4:30 p.m. - Break down of dealers’ room
Gala Banquet (evening, festive or Asian dress)
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. – Cash Bar Cocktails, Sovereign Ballroom (1st floor)
7:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. - Gala dinner, remarks, awards and dancing
Saturday, October 18, 2025
OPTIONAL TOUR 9:00 a.m. - Bus departs Omni King Edward Hotel, Toronto
11:00 a.m. - Bus arrives at Niagara Falls
12:30 p.m. - Bus departs for Skylon Tower
1:00 p.m. - Lunch at Skylon Tower Revolving Dining Room
2:30 p.m. - Bus departs for ice wine tasting at Inniskillin Winery (pre-eminent wine producer)
3:00 p.m. - Arrival at Inniskillin for private tour and tasting
4:15 p.m. - Bus departs for Omni King Edward Hotel, Toronto
6:00 p.m. - Arrival at King Edward Hotel
Our 2026 convention will take place in Amsterdam.
