Rosewood Lounge Chair and Ottoman Don Shoemaker
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.75 in (83.19 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 30.75 in (78.11 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Good vintage condition, minor wear on the frame, crackles on the leather, one small repaired tear on the leather sling, lots of characters.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU90451820732
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 the cocobolo, a Mexican rosewood, and he decided to delve into furniture design. In the late 1950s, he started a small factory, producing hand-carved 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 from 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: Atlanta, GA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Rosewood and leather lounge Chair and Ottoman Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GACrafted in beautiful rosewood, the lounge chair and ottoman was an iconic design by Don Shoemaker for Senal. The chair with a rocking seat and the folding ottoman...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Rosewood and Marble Table, Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GAA square dining or game table by Don Shoemaker for Senal, Mexico, circa 1970. Solid Mexican rosewood Cocobolo frame with carved organic forms and join...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMarble
- Two Rosewood Nesting Tables, Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GAA set of two nesting tables made by Don Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico, circa 1960s. Heavy cubist construction with minimalist form and exposed dove joins and point joints. The surface...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
MaterialsCocobolo
- 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
- Rare Solid Mexican Cocobolo Wood Desk Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GAA bespoken and rare desk by celebrated Mexican designer and woodworker Don Shoemaker, model no F46. Designed in 1970s and executed in 1981, the desk is constructed with patchwork of ...Category
Vintage 1980s Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsCocobolo
- Brazilian Rosewood Lounge Chair by Jorge ZalszupinBy Jorge ZalszupinLocated in Atlanta, GAA rare piece of Brazilian modern design, the "presidencial" lounge chair with arms was designed by Jorge Zalszupin (b. 1922) for L'Atelier, circa 1960s. Constructed with Brazilian ro...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
- Don Shoemaker Sling "Swinger" Chair and Ottoman, Mexico 1960sBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Camden, MEA Classic 20th century chair and ottoman from one of the great craftsman's workshops of Mexico: Senal, S.A., Don Shoemaker's tropical paradise in Michoacan, Mexico. This iconic chai...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Cocobolo
- Sculptural Cocobolo Rosewood Leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Don ShoemakerBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Jose, CAMid-Century Modern leather sling lounge chair and ottoman designed by Don Shoemaker in cocobolo rosewood manufactured by Senal S.A., Mexico. This sculptural set features flowing rose...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsRosewood, Leather
- Antique French Louis XVI Chaise Lounge and Ottoman, circa 1890Located in New Orleans, LAAntique French Louis XVI chaise lounge and ottoman, circa 1890. Measurements: Chair- 37.75 inches high x 27 inches wide x 20 deep Ottoma...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Ottomans and Poufs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- Kipp Stewart Rosewood and Walnut Lounge Chair and OttomanBy Kipp Stewart, DirectionalLocated in Kalamazoo, MIThis is a beautiful and rare lounge chair and ottoman pairing designed by Kipp Stewart for Directional in 1960. Superb form and beautiful woods combine in this walnut frame chair wit...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsRosewood, Walnut
- Don S. Shoemaker Sling Sloucher Lounge ChairBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo LeonFor your consideration, Shoemaker's most iconic chair, The Sloucher from the Sling line, the leather is original as are the buttons that are nailed to the wood (two out of twenty wer...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Cocobolo
- Midcentury Lounge Chair in Rosewood & Leather by Don Shoemaker, 1960sBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Detroit, MIThis vintage Mid-Century Modern armchair was designed in the 1950s by Don Shoemaker and produced by Señal, S.A., Mexico circa 1960. A leading midcentury Mexican modernist, Shoemaker’...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCocobolo, Leather, Rosewood
