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.
Studio Ceramic Bowl by Gary McCloy for Steve Chase
By Gary McCloy, Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980’s Studio ceramic bowl by Gary McCloy for Steve Chase. In beautiful vintage condition. Hand signed by Gary McCloy and retains the Steve Chase label. ...
Ceramic
Charger in Gunmetal and Gold Glazes by Gary McCloy for Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Studio made charger in gunmetal and gold glaze with graphic design by Gary McCloy for Steve Chase, American 1980's (Signed with original “Steve Chase Assoc.” label on bottom)
Ceramic
Postmodern Gray Ceramic Braided Woven Abstract Centerpiece Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Stunning woven braided ceramic centerpiece bowl glazed in a wonderful shade of gray with some blue tones. Great size for a coffee table or entryway. Very unusual abstract shape, plea...
Ceramic
Chinese Celadon Glazed Lotus Charger, Qing Dynasty, 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A sublime Chinese celadon glazed shallow dish or charger, Qing Dynasty, mid 18th century, China. Beautifully glazed, with a carved decoration of a group of lotus, leaves, stalks and blossoms. The interior wall with radiating S-shaped lines, a motif that is repeated on the wide rim of the dish. The back undecorated. Glazed all-over with an even bright celadon glaze, with some attractive areas of crackle. Ex. Butterfield's, San Francisco. Plate stand for display...
Porcelain
Large Blackware Charger by Maria and Santana Martinez, 'San Ildefonso'
By Santana Martinez, Maria Martinez
Located in Stamford, CT
A blackware charger decorated with a repeating feather motif. The charger is signed on the base Maria and Santana, circa 1943-1954.
Ceramic
Ming Dynasty Celadon Glazed Charger
Located in Stamford, CT
Ming dynasty celadon glazed charger having fluted interior with plain well center.
Ceramic
Mirage Contenitore Alto by Studio Intervallo
Located in Geneve, CH
Mirage Contenitore Alto by Studio Intervallo Dimensions: D 30 x H 6.2 cm Materials: green Guatemala marble. Available in other stones. The Mirage collection comes from the mono...
Marble
O'Connor Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
O'Connor bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 41.5 cm D 16 cm H 9.5 cm. Materials: dark bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on pro...
Bronze
Osborne Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Osborne bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 35 cm D 10 cm H 3.5 cm. Materials: polished bronze Also available in black/brown bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on pro...
Bronze
Vase in Oxblood Glaze
By Carl Haller
Located in Milan, IT
Carl Hallier for Royal Copenhagen Danish mid-century vase in oxblood glaze 1940s. Please note : the "free shipping option" and/or "subsidised shipping ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$960Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 1.13 in Dm 9.13 in
Ronald Hayes Pearson Shallow Spun Brass Metalworks Bowl American Studio Craft
By Ronald Pearson
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful metalwork, mid-century form. Good size, just over 9 inches.
Brass
Centerpiece Bowl Ceramic by Vivai Del Sud, Italy 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Rome, IT
Big centerpiece bowl in woven white ceramic manufactured by Vivai del Sud, Italy, 1970s. The original label is still attached on the bottom, as shown in the photos. Vivai del Su...
Ceramic
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.75 in Dm 11 in
"Wassail Feast" Charger by Pewabic for Detroit Institute of Arts, 1982
By Pewabic Pottery
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Crafted by one of America's finest Arts and Crafts potteries long after the era was over, this charger, glazed in a lovely, deep forest green, was made by Pewabic Pottery in Detroit for an annual holiday event hosted by the Detroit Institute of Arts...
Clay
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 4 in Dm 12 in
California Studio Craft Mahogany Centerpiece Fruit Bowl by Bob Stocksdale
By Bob Stocksdale
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful California utilitarian design with years of use and patina as intended. Cleaned to preserve past use. Showing a fleck to the rim, oil stains and utensil markings. The Top R...
Mahogany
$2,249Sale Price|25% Off
H 11.23 in Dm 1.58 in
Art Deco Andre Metthey Glazed Ceramic Plate / Charger. France 1910-20
By André Metthey
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Fantastic Art Deco Wall Glazed Ceramic Plate. A couple in Love. Very Romantic, both legs together form a heart. Spectacula piece of a fantastic Artist. André Metthey...
Ceramic
$1,800
H 2 in W 3 in D 4 in
"Suzanne", Art Deco Paperweight in Green Glaze by David Seyler for Kenton Hills
By Kenton Hills Pottery
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rare, perhaps unique, this quintessential Art Deco sculptural object -- probably meant to serve as a paperweight -- was sculpted by David Warren Seyler for Kenton Hills Pottery in no...
Ceramic
Large Mid-Century Modern Glazed Stoneware Charger Plate
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Large Stoneware Charger. This bold charger is signed. It is striking with blue cold-paint on the outside and bottom with white sno...
Stoneware
Studio Ceramic Planter by Roy Hamilton for Steve Chase
By Roy Hamilton, Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A rare studio ceramic planter or vase design by Roy Hamilton specially designed for Steve Chase in the 1980s. The planter has the Roy Hamilton mark on ...
Ceramic
Studio Ceramic Planter by Roy Hamilton for Steve Chase
By Roy Hamilton, Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A rare studio ceramic planter or vase design by Roy Hamilton specially designed for Steve Chase in the 1980s. The planter has the Roy Hamilton mark on ...
Ceramic
Two Steve Chase Retailed Stoneware Pottery Vessels
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A nice pair of Steve Chase retailed stoneware vessels. They both bear Steve Chase inventory labels. The large one is 16 inches tall and has a repair to the rim. It is 10 inches in di...
Pottery
Three Steve Chase Retailed Murano Vases
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A nice grouping of Murano vases, one of which still retains the Steve Chase inventory price tag. These are quite lovely and run in size from 14.25 inches tall to the smallest one whi...
Large Ceramic Vase Custom Designed for Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Large ceramic vase with a glossy pearlescent glaze and a whimsical pattern. It is marked "Gary McCloy exclusively for Steve Chase." It came from a pre...
Ceramic