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.
$1,500 / set
Palofierro wood Don Shoemaker Dominoes Set
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Beautiful Don Shoemaker Dominoes set made Palofierro wood. Includes designer label Don Shoemaker Santa Maria de Guido Mexico.
Wood
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Set of 2 Candlesticks by Don Shoemaker
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
Don Shoemaker Candlestick for Senal, Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Francisco, CA
Don Shoemaker design solid rosewood carved candlestick in the shape of a women's arm and hand. Elegant design by Don Shoemaker for his company Senal, Mexico. In very good original co...
Brass
$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
Abstract 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.
Cocobolo
$1,850Sale Price|36% Off
Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Inlaid Decorative Briefcase for Señal, circa 1970
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted slim decorative briefcase designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, shoemaker founded Señal w...
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
$960Sale Price / item|20% Off
60's Don S Shoemaker for Senal Carved Rosewood Tic-tac-toe Game Mexico Sculpture
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
Don Shoemaker wood and brass candleholders
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Uccle, BE
Here is a pair of Don Shoemaker candlesticks in Coco Bolo wood. Both retain correct original labels on the bottoms. Both reads “SENAL S.A. STA MARIA MORELIA...
Brass
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
1960s Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Bronze Votive Candle Holder
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a fascinating piece by Don Shoemaker. Cocobolo wood votive or candleholder. Made in Mexico, circa the 1960s. Materials : Bronze & Exo...
Bronze
Don S. Shoemaker 1970's Mexican Carved Wood Brutalist Jewel Box
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
A rare 1970's Mexican Brutalist style hardwood jewel box by American designer Don S. Shoemaker. The wood log fragment is carved on one side to shape its 2 heart-shaped box drawers (o...
Hardwood
$1,600
Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original Don Shoemaker paper basket. Almost perfect condition. Wood and leather.
Leather, Hardwood
$1,600
Don Shoemaker Box
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original. Excellent condition.
Wood
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 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
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
$6,000Sale 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
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
Don Shoemaker Midcentury Organic Jacaranda Wood Jewelry Box
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Queens, NY
Midcentury Rustic organic form jacaranda wood jewelry box with a bark exterior, and single drawer with wooden pull. (DON SHOEMAKER).
Wood
$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 Parquetry Work Box for Senal SA, Mexico, Label
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great parquetry box, designed for Don Shoemaker, label, Senal SA.
Wood
Early Vintage Rosewood Salt and Pepper Shaker Set by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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
$920Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.75 in W 12.75 in D 6.5 in
Antique Regency Inlaid Rosewood Silver Perfume Bottle Box Dressing Set 1824
Located in Portland, OR
A fine quality and handsome George IV/Regency inlaid rosewood dressing box, with the original sterling silver and glass fitted contents, London, 1824. The box having a lift-up hinged lid, finely inlaid with brass and bone marquetry of floral garlands & swags, the front having twin locking doors with corresponding inlay. Both the top, base and door panels have 'Dutch Ripple' molding and at each corner a hand-turned 'Barley Twist' column, both to the front and rear. The interior of the box also having inlaid satinwood stringing and three fitted compartments each with an etched crystal container...
Crystal, Silver, Brass
Danish Modern Enameled Abstract Teak Table Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Danish modern enameled abstract teak table box We are pleased to offer a Danish modern enameled abstract teak table box, this rectangular piece combines functionality and artistic e...
Copper, Enamel
$216Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 4.9 in W 3.9 in D 3.9 in
"Lorenzo" Riveted Leather Pencil Holder by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
By Oscar Maschera, Claude Bouchard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Lorenzo" is a riveted leather pencil holder, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable t...
Metal
$200Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 5.1 in Dm 3.5 in
"Antonio" Leather Pencil Holder Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
By Oscar Maschera, Claude Bouchard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Antonio" is a leather pencil holder, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera, and is part of Foglia Couture collection. G...
Leather
Walter Bosse pencil holder around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse pencil holder around 1950 Original condition Pencil not included
Brass
Don Shoemaker Bookends for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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
Men's Midcentury Jewelry Box
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a men's sterling silver jewelry box. It is from the 1950s and has that Classic Midcentury look; sleek and Minimalist. The inside is wood that we have had restrained ...
Sterling Silver
Mother-of-Pearl Mexican Silver Box
By Taxco
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Mexican silver box with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay. Lid opens to a wood lined interior. Very nicely done and a really beautiful object!
Silver
Italian Mid-Century Modern Silver Box
By Bartolini Bartolozzi
Located in New York, NY
Italian Mid-Century Modern 800 silver box. Rectangular with straight sides and thumb rest. Cover flat and hinged with tab. Allover engine-turned curvili...
Silver
British Campaign Royalty Leather Traveling Trunk, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
British Campaign water proof leather traveling trunk with leather fitted interior compartment, brass banding mounts, Royal coat of arms brass plate, brass side handles, and retains t...
Vintage Brass Candlesticks, 1960s, Set of 5
Located in KUTNO, PL
The set of vintage brass candlesticks is an elegant proposal that catches the eye with its timeless aesthetics and nobility of the material. The brass from which they are made gives ...
Brass
$960Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 1.25 in W 8 in D 8 in
60's Don S Shoemaker for Senal Carved Rosewood Tic-tac-toe Game Mexico Sculpture
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
Don Shoemaker Petite Hinged Lid Box for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rectangular Cocobolo box by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. Shoemaker is known for his use of exotic Mexican hardwoods and this hinged lid box is a beautiful ex...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Mixed Woods Trinket Box Circa 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Peabody, MA
Mixed woods trinket box, including rosewood and Mexican hardwoods such as jacaranda and cocobolo, by Don Shoemaker, Mexico, circa 1960s.
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Expat American Craftsman Don Shoemaker Handcraved Bowl Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Oakland, CA
A hand craved three footed bowl by expat American craftsman Don Shoemaker who started living in Mexico in the 1940s. The bowl created out of a local tropical hardwood into a gentle t...
Hardwood
Don Shoemaker Spice Rack for Señal SA
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
In theory, this piece was part of a set of kitchen spice racks, the lid is missing, it can be used as a storage for pens or a sweet bowl Born in Nebraska, ...
Hardwood
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Vessel
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo vessel for Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. The hand carved minimalist vessel features a rippled body with soft rounded edges and an eye catching wood grain. CITES Not...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Marquetry Paper Tray
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cocobolo 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 ...
Rosewood, Hardwood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Large Decorative Tray with Chevron Stripe
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rosewood serving tray with integrated handles by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a pixelated chevron-patterned parquet detail in exoti...
Wood, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Midcentury Freeform Rare Bowl by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Bowl by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico. Designer Don Shoemaker ( was born in Nebraska and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. In the late 1940s he...
Wood
Pair of Don Shoemaker Block Candle Holders
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Don Shoemaker for Señal cocobolo candle holders. The hand carved minimalist rosewood candle holders feature a geometric block design with circular carving in the center for a...
Rosewood, Cocobolo
Set of Three Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Block Candle Holders
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set 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 ...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Rosewood Block Vessel
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Don Shoemaker block vessel for Señal Rosewood vessel. The hand carved minimalist vessel features a geometric block design with circular carving in the center of the vessel. Labeled ...
Rosewood
Don Shoemaker for Señal Narrow Decorative Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A narrow serving tray by Don Shoemaker for Senal of Mexico. The tray has a dark rosewood frame with integrated handles at either end, and the t...
Rosewood