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.
$5,400 / set
Pair of Carved Wood Floor Lamps
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful pair of carved wood leaf pattern floor lamps. Newly re-wired with new brass hardware and new linen shades. These lamps came out of a Steve Chase designed Estate in ...
Brass
Lucite and Lacquer Copper Table Lamp by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980’s Glamorous table lamp by Steve Chase. Constructed of faux patinated copper polish lacquer and clear lucite with a custom houndstooth shade. Wired for US, it takes one 100w ma...
Lucite, Lacquer
Floor Lamp Brass Wood, Rupert Nikoll, Austria, 1960
By Stilnovo, J.T. Kalmar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A gorgeous floor light by Rupert Nikoll, Austria, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1960 (late 1950s or early 1960s). The light is very similar to the floor lamp model 'Hase' (engl. rabbit) designed by J.T. Kalmar. A white textile lamp...
Brass
$3,150 / item
H 27.5 in W 8.25 in D 5 in
Pebble Lamp, Black Lacquer and Copper by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pebble lamp Black lacquer Antique copper Hand repoussé Silk shade Limited edition Repousse´ is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. The techniqu...
Copper
$3,000 / item
H 28 in W 23.75 in D 14 in
Bian Hu Table Lamp, Black Lacquer and Copper by Robert Kuo, Hand Repoussé
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bian Hu table lamp Black lacquer Antique copper Hand respoussé Silk shade Handmade Respoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. The techniq...
Copper
$4,500
H 12.25 in W 14 in D 14 in
French 1950's Lacquered Metal and Lucite Triangular Shape table Lamp by Perzel
By Atelier Jean Perzel
Located in Long Island City, NY
Rare French mid-century light brown lacquered metal table lamp with curved Plexiglas diffusers by Jean Perzel. Signed.
Metal
Lucite and Brass Table Lamp by Frederick Cooper
By Frederick Cooper
Located in Highland, IN
Frederick copper was known for the high quality of their lamps and this handsome table lamp in Lucite and brass is a prime example. The crispness of the design is matched by the qua...
Brass
$6,461 / set
H 65.75 in W 12.6 in D 12.21 in
Pair of Pacific Heights Floor Lamps Boyd Lighting Barbara Barry
By Barbara Barry, Boyd Lighting
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this pair of RRP £8,800 Boyd Lighting Pacific heights floor lamps designed by Barbara Barry An absolutely sublime...
Chrome
Pair of Floor Lamps in Rosewood and Brass, 1950's
By Falkenbergs Belysning
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Pair of Floor Lamps in Rosewood and Brass, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Rosewood, brass and original lamp shades Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Falkenbergs...
Brass
Art Deco Table Lamp by Mazda, Black Lacquer Wood, Copper, France, 1926
By Mazda
Located in Köln, NW
Design Classic from the Art Déco Era. Table lamp, model "Mazda" France 1920s - 1930s. The wooden shaft and the wooden base have been professionally painted in high-gloss Black lacqu...
Copper
Midcentury American Copper Table Lamp with Verdigris Patina on Lucite Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stately Midcentury table lamp crafted in copper with a rich verdigris patina, mounted on a clear Lucite base. This American lamp features a classically inspired silhouette with a s...
Copper
French Art Deco Carved Wood with Brass Decorations Floor Lamp, 1930s
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Unique French Art Deco floor lamp. Beautiful carved wood shaft design with superb brass decorations and circular base. The conditions of the period are very good with its original br...
Brass
Cast Aluminum Hand Carved, Solace Floor Lamp
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in New York City, NY
Made of cast aluminum this pyramid shaped floor lamp stands as an icon in any space. It is made by handcarving foam and then sand cast in aluminum. Its is then finished in different...
Aluminum
Skyscraper Brass and Lucite Table Lamp
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Glamorous Mid-Century Modern brass metal and Lucite table lamp. Base features a skyscraper form brass body mounted on a clear Lucite base. In the style of Curtis Jere. Lampshade not...
Metal, Brass
Richard Lindley for Steve Chase Custom One of a Kind Brass Disc Table Lamp.
By Steve Chase, Richard Lindley
Located in Palm Springs, CA
So proud to offer a lamp made by the legendary lamp maker Richard Lindley. He had a shop on Melrose Place in Los Angeles in the 60s and 70s and made custom lamps for the most famous ...
Brass
Custom Pair of Plaster Fish Lamps Richard Ray for Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Beautiful 1980’s custom pair of large fish lamps by Richard Ray for Steve Chase. Out of a Steve Chase Estate in Rancho Mirage CA. The fish are cast p...
Brass
Pair of Steve Chase Terracotta Bedroom Table Lamps, Mid 20th Century
By Steve Chase
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Steve Chase Terracotta bedroom table lamps. Each made of beautifully distressed terracotta in the form of a fleur de lis. Additional informa...
Terracotta
Sold
H 32.25 in W 23.25 in D 14.25 in
Pair of Brutalist Plaster and Brass Table Lamps by Casual Lamps of California
By Steve Chase, Casual Lamps of California
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous pair of geometric brutalist cast plaster table Lamps by Casual lamps of California. This came out of a Steve Chase Designed estate in Rancho Mirage...
Brass
Ceramic Lion Table Lamp by Steve Chase Original String Shade
By Steve Chase
Located in Toledo, OH
Ceramic lion table in variegated shades of brown and cream on a black lacquer base. Original string lamp shade. Measures: 26" tall x 8" wide at base ...
Ceramic
Steve Chase Modern Design of Antique Urn Lamps
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
These amazing custom made living room lamps are made out of antique urns on patina iron stands. and designed by the late Steve Chase for a Vintage CC residence. Beautiful patina thro...
Iron
Large Pair of Raku Ware Lamps Designed for Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Large pair of Raku Ware lamps designed for a Steve Chase interior. The lamps have a wonderful Batik style Metallic glazed finish, and they have been Newly re...
Ceramic
Pair of Chrome Lamps by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in New York, NY
Pair of stunning chrome lamps acquired directly from a Steve Chase interior. The beautifully constructed chrome lamp bodies have a slight convex design shape to them and they have...
Chrome
Pair of Hand Carved Wood Floor Lamps by Dana Creath Designs for Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of carved wood floor lamps with a custom crackle lacquered finish design by Dana Creath designs for Steve Chase in the 1980s. Newly rewired, shades a...
Wood
Pair of Ceramic Goats and Lucite Table Lamps by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful pair of hand painted ceramic goats on a Lucite base, table lamps designed by Steve Chase in the 1980s. This were specially designed for a inte...
Bronze
Pair of Cactus Table Lamps by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful small pair of faux metal cactus table lamps by Steve Chase. The lamps came out of a Steve Home in Rancho Mirage. The lamps are constructe...
Metal
Pair of Studio Pink Ceramic Table Lamps by Roy Hamilton for Steve Chase
By Roy Hamilton, Steve Chase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful pair of 1980s pink glazed Studio ceramic table lamps designed by Roy Hamilton for Steve Chase. The lamps have been newly rewired, but retain the original hardware. New va...
Linen, Ceramic, Wood