Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
American, 1919-1990
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.
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Creator: Don S. Shoemaker
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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
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 ...
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Jacaranda, Mahogany, Rosewood, 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.
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
$1,700 Sale Price
41% Off
1970s Don Shoemaker for Señal Carved Root Wood Box Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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 W...
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Cocobolo, 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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Rare Bowl Hand-Carved
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful 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
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood, Walnut
$540 Sale Price
20% Off
Set of 2 Candlesticks by Don Shoemaker
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Scandinavian Modern Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
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.
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Cocobolo
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.
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Box
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original. Excellent condition.
Category
1970s Mexican Organic Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
$1,600
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.
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Cocobolo
$680 Sale Price
20% Off
Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original Don Shoemaker paper basket. Almost perfect condition.
Wood and leather.
Category
1980s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
$1,600
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.
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
$1,500 / set
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Cocobolo
$6,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Pencil Holder for Señal, Mexico, 1980s
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Pencil Holder for Señal, Mexico, 1980s. Makers label to the bottom.
Category
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood, Cocobolo
$680 Sale Price
20% Off
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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood, 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.
...
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
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).
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$200 Sale Price
20% Off
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.
Category
1960s Mexican Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
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Previously Available Items
Don Shoemaker Petite Hinged Lid Box for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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...
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
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...
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1950s Mexican Organic Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Don Shoemaker Spice Rack for Señal SA
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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, ...
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1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
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Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Vessel
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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...
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Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
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Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Marquetry Paper Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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 ...
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Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
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Rosewood, Hardwood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Large Decorative Tray with Chevron Stripe
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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...
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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...
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
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Wood
Pair of Don Shoemaker Block Candle Holders
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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...
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
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Rosewood, Cocobolo
Set of Three Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Block Candle Holders
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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 ...
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
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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 ...
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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...
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Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Rosewood Box for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A small Cocobolo rosewood box 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 visib...
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Don S. Shoemaker decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Don S. Shoemaker decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Don S. Shoemaker decorative objects, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative objects by Don S. Shoemaker were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative objects by Los Castillo, Senal, and Pedro Friedeberg. Prices for Don S. Shoemaker decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $225 and can go as high as $7,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $685.
Creators Similar to Don S. Shoemaker
Questions About Don S. Shoemaker Decorative Objects
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024The difference between a cobbler and a shoemaker comes down to their historical jobs. Shoemakers traditionally produced new footwear, while cobblers focused on repairing shoes for customers. However, some people do use the terms cobbler and shoemaker interchangeably. Shop a wide range of shoes on 1stDibs.
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