Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Candleholder
View Similar Items
Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Candleholder
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 6.75 in (17.15 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 9 in (22.86 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Cocobolo
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU936620476722
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.
- Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern BookendsBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CAHand carved bookends in Cocobolo by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico. This design was included in the 2017 Don S. Shoemaker ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsCocobolo
$280 Sale Price20% Off - Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Wood TraysBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CASet of four serving trays or plates by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker, from his workshop in Señal Mexico. Designer Don Shoemaker ( was born in Nebraska and studied at the Art Inst...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsWood
$240 Sale Price20% Off - Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Rare Bowl Hand-CarvedBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful and very rare attributed to Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. No labels but according to the owner this piece was purchased with a lot of items by Don Shoemaker hand carved ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsWood, Walnut
$540 Sale Price20% Off - Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Cutting Board or Server TrayBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CAUnused mixed wood cutting board or serving tray by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern More Dining and Entertaining
MaterialsWood
$280 Sale Price20% Off - Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Inlaid Wall Mount Bar TrayBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CATray by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker, from his workshop in Señal Mexico. Beautiful geometric inlaid marquetry of mixed exotic woods. Can be mounted on the wall. Designer Don Sho...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Barware
MaterialsWood
$360 Sale Price20% Off - Rare Cocobolo Don Shoemaker Fountain, Organic Mexican Mid-Century Modern, 1960sBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CAExceptional one of a kind organic midcentury Mexican modernist fountain designed by Don Shoemaker. Don Shoemaker fountain is made of Cocobolo woo...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Fountains
MaterialsCocobolo
$6,000 Sale Price20% Off
- 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
- Set of 2 Candlesticks by Don ShoemakerBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo LeonBorn in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at The Fine Arts Institution of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his family and settled in Santa Maria de Guido...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Scandinavian Modern Candlesticks
MaterialsHardwood
- Biomorphic Candle Holder in the Style of Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAHand carved burl wood candelabra. The freeform candle holder features placement for three candle sticks perfect for a dining or coffee table. Dimensions 16.75" width x 7.5" depth x ...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Candelabras
MaterialsWood, Burl
- Set of Three Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Block Candle HoldersBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Los Angeles, CASet of three Don Shoemaker for Señal cocobolo candle holders. The hand carved minimalist rosewood candle holders feature a geometric block design with circular cutout design on each ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Candlesticks
MaterialsCocobolo
- Don S. Shoemaker Mexican Modern Inlaid Mixed Woods Parquetry Hinged BoxBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Palm Springs, CAInlaid mixed woods parquetry box created by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960s. Box measures 2.25" by 6.5" by 5.5" and is in very good vintage condition showing some wear. Signed with the Do...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsWood
$476 Sale Price20% Off - Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, MXAll original Don Shoemaker paper basket. Almost perfect condition. Wood and leather.Category
Vintage 1980s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Baskets
MaterialsLeather, Hardwood
$1,600