Rarify: A Journey Through Vintage and Modern Furniture Curation

Rarify is a company that sells furniture, yes, but they see themselves as a brand… educational voice… and tech company that deals and specializes in modern design from the past, present, and future. Over the last 15 or so years, even before Rarify formally existed, they had amassed a notable collection of iconic 20th century design works that now surpasses 12,000 pieces. These are largely architect-designed works by legends such as Florence Knoll, Alvar and Aino Aalto, Mies van der Rohe, Charles and Ray Eames, George Nakashima, among many others.

When Rarify started, they saw an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to the “new” or contemporary design space as well, working with brands such as MOOOI, Foscarini, Emeco, USM Haller…etc. to name a few. These are brands who they carry as retailers, but who they also regularly collaborate with in the context of installations, events, and collaborations more broadly. In an effort to educate a growing community of design enthusiasts on their social media channels, Rarify started making educational videos about the history and stories behind individual design works. Today, these videos are what they’re perhaps most recognized for.  

Rarify regularly operates at differing scales. They work with architects, designers, and real estate developers on larger building-scale projects, whether new or vintage works are getting specified. They also increasingly work with film and TV, individuals in the US and abroad, and on custom projects where custom metalwork… millwork… or specialized restoration / resto-mod work is requested. 

Who Founded the Brand, When, and Why?

Rarify was founded by David Rosenwasser and Jeremy Bilotti, two designers and self-described nerds with backgrounds in architecture and technology from Harvard, MIT, and Cornell. The company was officially founded in the beginning of 2021, after years of brewing how the two could work together to start a meaningful business. It started with a question of how technology could be used to transform the “gallery” and “showroom” model into one that was completely digital and yet far more immersive than the digital standard at the time. They also wanted to use their own backgrounds in design and architecture to foster a community of design enthusiasts by focusing on education and authenticity as core values of running their business day to day. Business-wise, they saw a gap in the market for high-quality vintage and authentic new furniture that was both accessible to a younger audience and meticulously curated.

The Founder’s Background

Rarify’s origins begin back in high school. David founded a vintage business called D ROSE MOD as a teenager in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where he discovered a love and passion for furniture and architecture through the hunt of acquiring these iconic furniture pieces (often designed by legendary architects) and restoring them. By the time he was ready to start architecture school, he had a lucky break and a gracious business owner in the Philippines made a deal to buy out his whole collection for $120,000 just before starting architecture school, helping to become seed capital for a business and covering some of school of as well. David and Jeremy met each other at Cornell’s prestigious School of Architecture, where they quickly became close friends and collaborators. At Cornell, the two worked in research labs including Sabin Lab on topics such as concrete and ceramic 3D printing, robotic fabrication with industrial robotic arms, and DNA hydrogels. They graduated with multiple peer-reviewed research papers under their belts and a novel joint-thesis done together.

The two went on graduate school with David at Harvard’s GSD for a Master of Design Studies in Technology and Jeremy at MIT for dual Master of Science degrees in Design Computation (SMArchS) and Computer Science. While at MIT, Jeremy worked with Skylar Tibbits in the Self-Assembly Lab and would later teach product design at MIT as well. Their graduate work culminated in another joint-thesis in 2021, this time looking at 3D scanning as a tool for constructing a Digital Gallery and at how AI could be used to understand the ways people perceive value of design objects. Without missing a beat, they jumped into Rarify full time immediately after finishing school. 

Beyond their work in research and design, the founders have a passion for vintage furniture and how furniture is crafted and/or manufactured. Their collective backgrounds allow them to view furniture not only as functional objects but as a form of art and historical record. Each curated piece therefore has a narrative of its own. 

The Inspiration Behind Founding the Company

The inspiration behind founding Rarify stemmed from the founders’ passion for education and authenticity in design. In a world where fast and arguably disposable furniture dominates the market, David and Jeremy were driven to create a company that could offer an alternative—furniture with meaning, value, history, and longevity. They recognized that furniture, like art, reflects its time, and that vintage pieces often represent the innovations of their era. These pieces were often built with care and attention to detail, qualities often absent from profit-centric modern mass production.

At the same time, the two understood that design is ever-evolving, and they wanted to include innovative pieces from the present in their offerings. By curating new designs alongside vintage items, they provide clients and enthusiasts with a curated selection of what they consider to be the “past, present, and future.” Inspiration for Rarify is grounded in this belief that furniture can be more than a mere object—it can be a bridge between eras, materials, and technologies.

The Vision for the Future of Rarify

Looking ahead, Rarify’s vision is to expand its reach in the world of design, not only by continuing to be a leader in design education, but also continuing to collaborate with the manufacturers and designers who they deeply respect on installations, educational projects, archival research, limited edition product collaborations, and perhaps even their own Rarify-produced works. The company aims to create more awareness about the importance of craftsmanship, fabrication methods, and materials. Thus, more trips to workshops and factories are in the works, along with videos to further educate others. 

Rarify also plans to further expand its offerings by partnering with emerging designers. Ultimately, Rarify envisions itself not only as a retailer but as a cultural and educational hub for anyone passionate about this world.

The process

The process behind Rarify’s curation is one of careful selection, research, and storytelling. Their team scours auctions, estate sales, private collections, factories, and showrooms worldwide to find pieces that meet their high standards for design, quality, and authenticity. Each piece is researched extensively to identify as much as possible about its provenance and design history. This is an important element that allows customers to connect with the stories behind their purchases.

The selection process for Rarify is deeply focused on historical significance, the designer / manufacturer / craftsperson behind the object, provenance, and authenticity. Whether vintage or new, they are typically seeking out works that fit within the cannon of important design across history or those that they feel will be cemented as icons for the future. For vintage works, rarity and condition are certainly considerations. They seek to avoid works that look “mid-century modern” or “postmodern” for the sake of it, but instead acquire the groundbreaking or notable works that were pivotal in their time. Thanks to the emphasis on manufacturing in the post-war era, this furniture was typically mass manufactured and is not always terribly expensive, even for nicely preserved or restored examples.

The best source for Rarify’s inventory is a blend of connecting with vintage dealers, searching for manufacturers of all sizes, including those who have yet to be widely known within the US especially, and tried and true methods for used and vintage pieces including Facebook Marketplace, local auctions, and beyond. They still regularly go to their favorite thrift stores in hopes of a good find too! Relationships with designers and collectors around the world also open doors to unique finds that are not always available in public markets.

Tell Us About Your Relationship with Be Original Americas

Rarify has formed a strong relationship with Be Original Americas, an organization that advocates for authentic design and fighting the good fight against knockoff or “dupe” culture through education. Through their partnership, Rarify ensures that all contemporary items in their collection honor the intellectual property of the designers and contribute to the conversation around preserving original design in the marketplace.
Rarify’s relationship with Be Original Americas allows the company to be at the forefront of the movement to protect original design, helping to educate consumers about the value of authenticity in the furniture world.

What’s Next for Rarify?

The future looks exciting for the company with plans to expand both their vintage and contemporary collections. Rarify is opening a showroom in Philadelphia at 7th and Bainbridge soon (they are hoping for late 2024). They also recently added an additional 40,000 square feet to their operations in Lebanon, PA, still within the stunning postindustrial (former) Bethlehem Steel plant. The company is also exploring new ways to educate its customers and audience through video of course, but also in-person events where they can get more granular on individual works. Continuing to partner with organizations such as DOCOMOMO, ICFF, and Be Original Americas would certainly be a good start!

To learn and shop, visit Rarify.co