Steve Chase lived in and worked out of Palm Springs, California, but he created luxury spaces and furniture for projects that took shape all over the world. A consummate art collector and brilliant interior designer, Chase was involved in every aspect of the rooms he designed and attracted many high-profile clients, including Gerald and Betty Ford, Farrah Fawcett and Gene Hackman.
Chase was born in New Hampshire and attended the Rhode Island School of Design as well as the ArtCenter in Los Angeles. After completing his studies, he joined Arthur Elrod and Associates — a celebrated Palm Springs-based firm that created colorful interiors and furniture for a range of Hollywood stars and more during the height of the mid-century modern era. Chase worked with Elrod for more than a decade before establishing his own business in 1980.
Chase designed his furniture to meet the sensibilities and personalities of his clients, and his work ranged from the traditional to the tastefully unconventional. While he created sculptural brass side tables that boast striking brutalist forms, there were also understated chrome-framed coffee tables with fossil shell tops. For his seating, Chase’s palette ranged from bright pastels to modest earth tones, and his vintage sofas are known for their signature tufted-channel backrests and seats. The plush cushioning was most prevalent in his Monterey seating collection of chairs, sectionals and sofas manufactured by the firm Martin Brattrud Inc., which produced most of Chase's designs during the 1970s and '80s.
Chase supported a number of charitable organizations and strongly advocated for the Desert AIDS Project (DAP), a volunteer-led initiative to combat the HIV epidemic in Coachella Valley. He lent his design talents to improve their office space, and used his influence with celebrities to enlist their help on the project. Chase also joined the Contemporary Art Council Acquisitions Committee at the Palm Springs Art Museum and eventually bequeathed more than 130 works to the institution when he passed away in 1994.
In 1996, the DAP created the annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards to honor him. Today he is remembered for his humanitarian giving as often he is for his furniture designs and lively interiors.
On 1stDibs, explore an array of vintage Steve Chase chairs, tables and lighting.
Monumental Lidded Amphora Style Ceramic Vessel, Custom for Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Truly monumental Amphora style ceramic vessel with a separate lid. This piece is from an Indian Wells estate completely styled by Steve Chase and was custom ordered for Mr. Chase. I...
Ceramic
Beautiful and Enormous Gilded Ceramic Urn
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful and enormous gilded ceramic urn in the form of an antique Amphora. It came from an Indian Wells estate styled completely by Steve Chase.
Ceramic
$4,564
H 24.81 in W 14.97 in D 9.85 in
Vase Painted Two-handled Amphora Majolica Renaissance Vessel Italian Ceramic
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
This large luxurious amphora, in majolica handmade in Italy and hand-painted in polychrome, is characterized by a dense presence of naturalistic ornamental motifs that decorate the v...
Ceramic, Majolica
Beautiful Empire Sevres Urn
Located in New Orleans, LA
Sevres Porcelain and Bronze Urn Depicting the Campaigns of Napoleon I
Bronze
$1,882 / item
H 15.75 in W 11.03 in D 6.3 in
Blue Vase Vessel Hand Painted Two-handled Amphora Renaissance Italian Ceramic
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
Majolica amphora made and painted by hand, following the original Renaissance painting technique. This sumptuous vase is characterized by the elegant presence of naturalistic ornamen...
Ceramic, Majolica
Vintage Japanese Ceramic Lidded Vessel c1970s
Located in Oakland, CA
Absolutely stunning tapered turned studio clay vessel with a beautifully sculpted lid. Amazing glaze work with cascading puffy drips. Really a handsome piece. Signed by maker.
Clay
$1,404Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.85 in Dm 7.49 in
Sic Rimini Blu Glazed Ceramic Large Lidded Vessel / Box Bitossi Aldo Londi Style
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi, SIC Ceramiche Artistiche
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Mid-Century Modern blue glazed ceramic (Rimini Blu) round lidded box , Manufactured by S.I.C Ceramiche Italy, 1950-1960s. It has reminiscences in those Rimini blue designs from Aldo Londi and Bitossi...
Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta
$320
H 10.5 in W 7.5 in D 9 in
Antique Handcrafted Terracotta Pitcher Rustic Amphora-Style Clay Vessel
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This antique handcrafted terracotta pitcher is a beautiful example of traditional earthenware pottery, showcasing the simplicity and durability of time-honored ceramic techniques. Th...
Earthenware
Studio Ceramic Cachepot by Gary McCloy for Steve Chase
By Gary McCloy, Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980s Studio ceramic planter or cachepot with purple and copper glazing by Gary McCloy for Steve Chase. Hand signed and marked exclusively for Steve Chase....
Ceramic
Vintage Glazed Ceramic Lidded Urns - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This elegant pair of vintage lidded urns brings a sense of refined Neoclassical grace and Hollywood Regency glamour to any interior. Masterfully crafted from high-quality ceramic, ea...
Ceramic
$7,500
H 17.63 in Dm 8.5 in
GUIDO GAMBONE, VIETRI, Monumental Glazed Ceramic Vessel, Italy, Circa 1950's
By Guido Gambone
Located in Chatham, ON
GUIDO GAMBONE - VIETRI - Rare Mid Century monumental studio ceramic vessel / jug - hand painted - thick, frothy, gritty glaze (sand added in production) - signed with a donkey and VI...
Ceramic
Cast Iron Gilded Antique Urn or Jardiniere
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A striking antique cast iron urn, planter or jardiniere dating from the late 19th century. Originating from France, this 150-year-old, gilded urn is a showstopping piece with its bold black paint and gold colour contrasts. The design brings a sense of grandeur to any setting, detailed with masks among foliage and scrolls to both the front and the back and a pair of handles with stylised winged lion heads. This French urn makes an impressive display piece, the vibrant colours certain to draw any eye. Additional Information Base 8.66 x 8.66 inch (22 x 22 cm) Blue plinth...
Iron
Pair of Empire Style Carved, Painted and Gilded Wooden Urns
Located in Hudson, NY
This dramatic and decorative pair of urns made in France in the 1920's are in the popular empire revival style. Turned as a rather stretched Campania urn on a stand the vases are the...
Gesso, Paint, Wood
Huge Midcentury Drip Glaze Ceramic Urn
By Marcello Fantoni, Bitossi, Raymor, Aldo Londi, Fantoni
Located in Houston, TX
Huge Midcentury Drip Glaze Ceramic Urn. Huge white Mid-Century Modern drip glaze ceramic urn, vessel or vase. This large, 27 inch urn is...
Ceramic
Modern Raku Urn with Lid from Steve Chase Estate by Gary McCloy
By Steve Chase, Gary McCloy
Located in Palm Springs, CA
This is one if the best Raku pottery pieces deigned for a iconic estate by the late Steve Chase. A post-modern 1980s graphics on a bronze metallic raku glaze also has shades of midni...
Ceramic