It has been a garage, a wholesale flower market, and an art center. It is the site of Boston's major fall antiques show, and its relatively small circumference limits the number of participating dealers to about 50. A Skinner's sale of 20th-century Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, and modern furnishings offered objects comparable to articles available at the Boston show. Generally, as retail buyers have pushed auction prices higher, dealer goods have become relatively more attractive. Most large auction houses and universities have only recently researched 20th-century design, and Modernist dealers have been primary scholars in this field.
Many dealers also offer trade-up possibilities unavailable through auction houses.
Yet, retail buyers competing against dealers continue to seek bargains at auctions and have pushed prices up. Auction prices peaked, fell in the 1980's, and then rose for Mission-style furnishings, while prices have risen steadily for the more distinctive Modernist pieces. Arts and Crafts Warmly hued copper lamps by Dirk Van Erp, dark oak Stickley bookcases and light fixtures, and chocolate leather Morris chairs showed to great effect under the Cyclorama's vast skylight. The Cyclorama show and Skinner's auction underscored the values available in original Arts and Crafts objects. The Boston show focused on Art Deco and Futurist.