Don Shoemaker Box
$1,600
Don Shoemaker Box
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original. Excellent condition.
1970s Mexican Organic Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Furniture
Wood
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.
$1,600
Don Shoemaker Box
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original. Excellent condition.
Wood
Modernist Sofa Table by Don S. Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A modernist piece designed in Mexico by Don S Schumacher. Exotic Cocobolo wood that could easily be mistaken for rosewood. Lacquer finish. The perfect corner maker for a sofa...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Mahogany Swinger Lounge Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather lounge chair by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. The chair features a mahogany frame and original black leather hide. Nail details line the top of the seat back of t...
Leather, Mahogany
Don Shoemaker for Señal Geometric Marquetry Tray with Stand
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Serving tray and stand by Don Shoemaker for Senal of Mexico. The tray has a dark rosewood frame with integrated handles at either end, and the tray surface has a repeating geometric ...
Rosewood
$6,320Sale Price / set|20% Off
Don Shoemaker Rosewood and Leather 'Swinger' Chair and Ottoman, 1960s, Signed
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Named the 'Swinger Chair' for its pivoting mechanism that allows you to swing in your seat, this incredible rosewood and black leather 'Swinger' rocking armchair and ottoman by leadi...
Leather, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Rectangular Cocobolo Tray for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Narrow tray by Don Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico, c.1960s. The tray has a Cocobolo frame with integrated handles and features an inlaid striped pattern of rosewood. Retains original ma...
Hardwood, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker - Senal Exotic Mixed Hardwoods Rosewood Trinket Box Made in Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by eccentric woodworker and designer Don Shoemaker, this trinket box was made by Senal in Mexico. It employs a cacophany of exotic woods, including cocobolo, jacaranda, and ...
Jacaranda, Mahogany, Rosewood, Cocobolo
$6,932 / set
Pair of 1960s Folding Armchairs by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in London, England
In Cocobolo wood, with original black leather seat and chair back, circa 1965.
Leather
Rectangular Table Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas
Extraordinary table by Don Shoemaker made of cocobolo wood, a variety of Mexican rosewood. The surface of the round table is inlaid with marquetry in ...
Cocobolo
Mid-Century Modern Cocobolo Candle Holders by Don S. Shoemaker, Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Don Shoemaker for Señal cocobolo candle holders. The hand carved minimalist candle holders feature an organic, fluid form with a brass center for a candlestick. Dimensions ...
Brass
Don S. Shoemaker Cocobolo Wood Bookends, Mid-20th Century
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Cocobolo
$3,395Sale Price|32% Off
Don Shoemaker Folding Arm Chair, Mexico c.1960
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Two chairs available-price per chair. Please message. Original folding arm chair designed by Don Shoemaker for Senal SA. Can be used as dining chair or accent chair. The cha...
Rosewood, Teak
$1,627Sale Price|25% Off
Don S. Shoemaker Sling Folding Armchair, 1960s Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Original design by Don S. Shoemaker, made in Santa María de Guido, Michoacán, Méx. This armchair is being offered without the leather, but it was professionally restored to bring out...
Wood
Headboard by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970. We offer this headboard designed by Don Shoemaker. Made in cocobolo wood.
Wood
$680Sale Price|20% Off
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Pencil Holder for Señal, Mexico, 1980s
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Pencil Holder for Señal, Mexico, 1980s. Makers label to the bottom.
Wood, Cocobolo
Wood Box by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Designed by Don Shoemaker and handcrafted by SEÑAL, S.A. Mexico, circa 1960s. Using exotic local wood in Mexico such as Granadillo, excellent vintage condition. The box has beautifu...
Wood
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Cocobolo Don Shoemaker Fountain, Organic Mexican Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Exceptional one of a kind organic midcentury Mexican modernist fountain designed by Don Shoemaker. Don Shoemaker fountain is made of Cocobolo woo...
Cocobolo
$486Sale Price|30% Off
Mexican Modern Wood Tray By Don S. Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Houston, TX
Mexican Modern Wood Tray By Don S. Shoemaker. Offered is a beautiful Mexican modern tray with handles by Don Shoemaker. Made for Señal S.A. from Cocobolo Wood which is a Mexican rose...
Wood
$208Sale Price|20% Off
Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Cutting Board and Salt and Pepper Shakers
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Cutting board or serving tray and mixed exotic woods salt and pepper shakers by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original label from his w...
Wood
$220Sale Price / set|20% Off
Mid Century Rosewood “Elephant” Salt & Pepper Shakers
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Wear consistent with age and use. As a vintage item, light cosmetic wear might be present but with no structural damage. Wear consistent with age and use.
Rosewood
Rare Corner Table by Mexican Mid-Century Modernist Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare an amazing corner table designed by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960, this piece is very rare and hard to find, a perfect piece for the Don Shoemaker collectors, includes...
Wood
$384Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Salt and Pepper Shakers
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mérida, YU
This is a mid-century set of Salt and Pepper Shakers. Made by Don Shoemaker for Señal in Mexico.
Hardwood
$960Sale Price / item|20% Off
60's Don S Shoemaker for Senal Carved Rosewood Tic-tac-toe Game Mexico Sculpture
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Diego, CA
Fantastic hand made Don S. Shoemaker designed tic-tac-toe game for Senal and dates from the 1960's. Made of beautiful rosewood. Has the original artists tag on the bottom. The game i...
Wood, Rosewood
Mid-Century Modern Don Shoemaker for Señal Exotic Wood Serving Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a mid-century modern designed by Don Shoemaker and produced by Señal Mexico circa the 1980s. Mid-century Service Tray medley of exotic woods. Cut out the hand...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Don Shoemaker Service Tray Tapered Exotic Wood
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a service tray By Designer Don Shoemaker produced by Senal in Mexico 1970s. Marvelous mid-century service tray medley of exotic woods. Cut out handle for easy...
Rosewood, Cocobolo
1970s Don Shoemaker for Señal Carved Root Wood Box Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a free form lidded box designer Don Shoemaker Mexico. Retains original label Señal. Mexico circa the 1970s. Cocobolo root wood. Dimensions: 6.5" H x 4" D x 10...
Cocobolo, Wood
1970s Don Shoemaker Service Tray Exotic Wood Señal Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s Designed by Don Shoemaker produced by Señal Mexico Midcentury single Service Tray wall decor in exotic woods Cut out handle for easy carry. 21.75 long 8.25 w x 1.75 h More tray...
Wood
1960s Don Shoemaker Hand-Carved Cocobolo Wood Bookends a Pair
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1960s Don Shoemaker Hand-Carved Cocobolo Wood Bookends – Pair Mid Century Modern Mexican Design, Señal S.A. Rare and exquisite pair of hand-carved cocobolo wood bookends by renowned...
Wood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Leather Rosewood Sofa
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in New York, NY
Don Shoemaker leather and rosewood sofa.
Leather, Wood, Cocobolo
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Don Shoemaker Bookends for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Born 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...
Hardwood
$500 / set
Mexican Modern Bookends by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970. We offer this Hand carved bookends made in Cocobolo by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Include original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.
Wood
$2,200
Chair by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Carved chair with original leather insert by Don Shoemaker. Chair measures 19.5" wide, 20.5" deep and 27" high. Seat height is 12". Chair has been professionally refinished.
Wood, Leather
Don Shoemaker Large Serving Tray /Cutting Board Made with Different Woods
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
This is a Mexican wood tray, cutting board or serving platter made in 1960s in Michoacan, Mexico by Don Shoemaker. It is in excelllent condition and...
Hardwood
Don Shoemaker Parquetry Work Box for Senal SA, Mexico, Label
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great parquetry box, designed for Don Shoemaker, label, Senal SA.
Wood
Don Shoemaker Desk Top Business Card Holder
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare business card holder made in Cocobolo and granadillo wood, includes Original label of Señal S.A., circa 1970.
Cocobolo
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Early Vintage Rosewood Salt and Pepper Shaker Set by Don Shoemaker
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century Modern abstract salt and pepper shakers designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal, S.A. Mexico. This set is handmade in rosewood with unique brass ring dispensers that makes fo...
Brass
$680Sale Price|20% Off
1960s Geometric Jewelry Trinket Geometric Box Mexican Craft Eclectic Woodworker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Vintage hinged lidded hexagonal box by Don Shoemaker, Senal.
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Rosewood Swinger Lounge Chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather lounge chair by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. The chair features a rosewood frame and original black leather hide. Nail details line the top of the seat back of t...
Leather, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Salt and Pepper Set with Tray of Rosewood, Oak and Mixed Woods
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice and great modern desgin in this rare set by Don Shoemaker.
Wood
Vintage Don Shoemaker Rosewood Swinger Chair Signed Senal, Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chicago, IL
A great vintage example. Not a reproduction. Beautiful grain. Signed on cross stretcher. Are pictures available upon request.
Wood
$4,800 / set
Two Rosewood Nesting Tables, Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
A 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...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Small Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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 hardwood...
Hardwood, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Sling Swinger Chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Long Island City, NY
A leader of Mexico Modernism, Don Shoemaker created the “Sling” chair in the 1950s and designed variations through the 1960s, including the “Swinger” armchair you see here. Our versi...
Cocobolo, Granadillo, Leather
Don Shoemaker Small Chevron Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating chevron marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwoods....
Hardwood, Rosewood
Poltrona di Don Shoemaker per Señal, 1960
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Questa poltrona disegnata da Don Shoemaker per Señal negli anni ’60 è un autentico esempio di artigianato e design modernista messicano. Realizzata con materiali pregiati come il leg...
Leather, Wood
Don S. Shoemaker Colonial Carved Wood Low Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
A rare 1960's pinewood low chair by Don S. Shoemaker. This piece belongs to Shoemaker's "Colonial" line of furniture, produced in the second half of the decade. The pinewood chair's ...
Pine
Don Shoemaker Decorative Tray for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Serving 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 ...
Hardwood, Rosewood
1970's Mexican Don S. Shoemaker Set of 4 Mixed Woods Spice Boxes / Tea Caddies
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
A 1970's Mexican mixed hardwood set of 4 spice boxes by American designer Don S. Shoemaker. The geometric shaped boxes with round covers are designed with bands of different woods. ...
Wood
Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A 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...
Rosewood
Don S. Shoemaker Cocobolo Wood Bookends, Mid-20th Century
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Cocobolo