1970s Don Shoemaker Service Tray Exotic Wood Señal Mexico
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 1.75 in (4.45 cm)Width: 8.25 in (20.96 cm)Depth: 21.75 in (55.25 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Preowned vintage.
- Seller Location:Chula Vista, CA
- Reference Number:
Don S. Shoemaker
If it weren’t for his honeymoon, American furniture designer Don S. Shoemaker might not have played any role in Mexican modernism of the mid-20th century.
Born in Nebraska in 1919, Shoemaker studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago during the 1930s. In the 1940s he got married, and he and his wife, Barbara, ventured to Mexico for their honeymoon. Enamored with the country, Shoemaker decided that Mexico should become the newlyweds' permanent home. They settled in a town called Santa Maria de Guido in Michoacán, where Shoemaker spent his days painting and growing rare plants.
Through horticulture, Shoemaker became inspired by Mexico’s tropical woods, such as cocobolo, a Mexican rosewood, and he decided to delve into furniture design. In the late 1950s, he started a small factory, producing hand-carved desks, armchairs, dining room tables, decorative boxes and bowls, and serveware. The popularity of Shoemaker’s furnishings grew throughout Mexico, and his small factory became the Señal S.A. company, employing more than 100 skilled artisans and carpenters.
Shoemaker’s handcrafted designs were essentially a mid-century modern interpretation of traditional Mexican household furnishings, and like Clara Porset — an unsung Cuban-born activist, writer and designer who drew on Mexican craft traditions in her concepts for furniture — he found inspiration in his adopted country. These influences can be seen in iconic Shoemaker originals like the Sling collection of seating, the Suspension stool and several of his table designs.
Shoemaker's furniture was exhibited in showrooms in several major Mexican cities and across the U.S., including Houston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. (And mid-century modernist ideas that traveled between Mexico and California didn’t make one-way trips — they bounced back and forth.)
After Shoemaker died in 1990, his son George took over Señal S.A. The company closed after George’s death in the early 2000s.
Shoemaker’s Mexican modern furnishings continue to be coveted by avid furniture collectors around the world. From 2016 to 2017, the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City dedicated a retrospective exhibition to honoring his work.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Don S. Shoemaker desks, seating, decorative objects and serveware.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: National City, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- 1970s Mexico Bar Service Tray Exotic Wood Stripe by Don Shoemaker for SeñalBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chula Vista, CA1970s Designed by Don Shoemaker and produced by Señal Mexico Midcentury Service Tray medley of exotic woods Cut out the handle for easy carry. Tray 8.25 w x 21.75 long x 1.75 d ...Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsWood
- 1970s Don Shoemaker Service Tray Exotic Wood Stripe for Señal MexicoBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Chula Vista, CAService tray By Designer Don Shoemaker produced by Senal in Mexico, 1970s Marvelous midcentury service tray Medley of exotic woods Cut out Handle design for easy carry Measures: ...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood, Cocobolo
- 1970s Mexico Bar Service Tray Exotic Wood Stripe by Don Shoemaker for SeñalBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chula Vista, CABy Don Shoemaker produced by Señal in Mexico 1970s Elegant midcentury Service Tray rich medley of exotic Woods Cut out Handle design for easy carry Measures: 12 D x 20.5 L x 1.5 H...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Barware
MaterialsWood, Cocobolo
- 1970s Don Shoemaker for Señal Carved Root Wood Box MexicoBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Chula Vista, CA1970s Free form lidded box designer Don Shoemaker Mexico Retains original label Señal Cocobolo root wood 6.5 h x 4 d x 10 w Original vintage unrestored condition. Expect signs of vin...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCocobolo, Wood
- 1970s Custom-Made Exotic Wood Side Table Style of Don Shoemaker MexicoBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chula Vista, CA1970s Custom-made Exotic Wood Side Table Style of Don Shoemaker Mexico Single hand-crafted side table in exotic wood 17.25 x 16.5 d x 16.25 Original preowned vintage condition Se...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsWood
- 1960s Bronze Candle Holder Exotic Wood Don Shoemaker MexicoBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chula Vista, CAFascinating piece Don Shoemaker Votive Candleholder Mexico 1960s Bronze & Exotic Cocobolo Wood. Fine Mexican Modernism Original Preowned Vintage Unrestored...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern More Candle Holders
MaterialsBronze
- Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood TrayBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Kalamazoo, MIEye-catching 1960s geometric design of tropical hardwoods designed by Don S. Shoemaker and made in Mexico by his company Senal, S.A. Practical and beautiful, this mid-century modern ...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsHardwood
- Don Shoemaker Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Los Angeles, CAServing tray by Don Shoemaker for Senal of Mexico. The tray has a dark rosewood frame with integrated handles at either end, and the tray surface is inlaid with precious wood veneer ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Don S. Shoemaker Multi-Wood Decorative Tray for Señal FurnitureBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Los Angeles, CATransforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsWood, Mahogany, Rosewood
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Marquetry Paper TrayBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Los Angeles, CACocobolo paper tray with geometric pattern by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. Shoemaker is known for the marquetry in his work, which is clearly visible in the ...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
MaterialsHardwood, Cocobolo, Rosewood
- Large Exotic Mixed Wood Tray by Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GAA large rectangular wood tray designed by Don Shoemaker and handcrafted by SEN~AL, S.A. Mexico circa 1950. Using exotic local wood in Mexico such...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsWood
- Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Los Angeles, CAA rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating geometric marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwo...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood