Modern Marvels

By Betsy Kroll

Antiques of the Future author Lisa S. Roberts looks into design's crystal ball to determine which household objects might become tomorrow's collectibles

HOW DO YOU DEFINE AN "ANTIQUE OF THE FUTURE"? It's a mass-produced but highly defined object that is being made today that I believe--once it is no longer in production--will go up in value because it represents the best of design in its time.

HOW SHOULD SOMEBODY START A DESIGN COLLECTION? The first thing I would recommend--because I love this object--is the OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler. It's in the permanent collection in the MOMA, and it only costs $6.99. So that means anybody can own something that's in a museum if they only know what those things are.

HOW DO YOU SELECT THINGS FOR YOUR PERSONAL COLLECTION? Everybody has to set some guidelines in order to limit what you collect. I'm drawn to objects with humor and with innovation.

WHAT'S THE CRAZIEST THING IN YOUR COLLECTION? Are you ready for this? It's called the Airborne Snotty vase. It's by Marcel Wanders. He used a special camera to photograph a sneeze. So the vase is a sneeze. When I first saw it, I thought it was the weirdest, creepiest thing.