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
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original Don Shoemaker paper basket. Almost perfect condition. Wood and leather.
Leather, Hardwood
$1,850Sale Price|36% Off
H 12.5 in W 17 in D 3.25 in
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
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
$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
$1,595
H 2.57 in W 18 in D 5 in
Centerpiece Rare Wood Fruit Bowl Mid 20th Century American Craftsman Design
By Emil Milan
Located in Hyattsville, MD
An iconic rare wood elongated bowl in African Teak (Bubinga) by Mid-Century master Emil Milan.
Teak
$2,800
H 25 in W 36 in D 10 in
Mid-Century Modern Large Abstract Wood Table Sculpture after Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Wendell Castle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An exceptional and large work that demands attention. The abstract sculpture features a large and heavy mounted piece of exotic wood. Unmarked, circa 1970s In the style of Wendell...
Steel
Pablo Picasso Ceramic Plate by Bernardaud Limoges, Don Quixote Decor
By L. Bernardaud and Co., Pablo Picasso
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning decorative ceramic plate was manufactured by Bernardaud et Cie in Limoges, France, with an original design by Pablo Picasso. The plate represents an iconic work by the ...
Ceramic, Earthenware, Porcelain
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
Don Jennings California Studio Pottery Abstract Piranha 1960s
By Don Jennings
Located in San Diego, CA
Handcrafted ceramic low bowl or platter by California studio pottery artist Don Jennings. Expertly thrown form with a striking abstract piranha design. Jennings was active in the Sou...
Ceramic, Clay
Mid-Century Modern Hand Carved Wood Fruits and Bowl
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of 10 hand carved wooden fruits with bowl. High level of craftsmanship, executed in a handful of different hardwoods.
Hardwood
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...
Hardwood
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 25 in W 22 in D 22 in
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
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
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 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 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
Don Shoemaker for Señal Narrow Decorative Tray
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
Don Shoemaker Rosewood Lidded Box for Senal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rectangular 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 visible ...
Rosewood
Midcentury 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...
Wood
Pair of Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Rare Snack Server Trays
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare set of 2 snack serving trays designed by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.
Wood, Cocobolo
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 ...
Wood, Walnut
Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Rare Set of 4 Snack Server Trays
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare set of 4 snack serving trays designed by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.
Wood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Banana Low Bowl Server Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful banana shape serving tray by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.
Wood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Boomerang Low Bowl Server Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful boomerang shape serving tray by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.
Wood, Cocobolo