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
$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
$1,825Sale Price|37% Off
H 12.5 in W 17 in D 3.25 in
Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Inlaid Decorative Briefcase for Señal, circa 1970
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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
$2,950
H 9.4 in W 8.65 in D 8.65 in
Laura Andreson Signed Monumental Glazed Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Pottery Bowl
By Laura Andreson
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully crafted and beautifully glazed (in Fall greens and browns) large bowl/vase by renowned American potter Laura Andreson. Gorgeous in its Mid-Century Modern design and shifting colors. Signed on the base by Andreson. A quite special and rare work. Certainly, one of the best pieces of Andreson's work we have had the pleasure to come across. Highly collectible. Would be a great addition to any midcentury ceramics collection or a very eye-catching stand-alone work in about any setting. Andreson, who studied under Glen Lukens, founded and headed the ceramics department at UCLA from 1933-1970. Her work can be found in many collections and museums worldwide including: Metropolitan Museum of Art The Museum of Modern Art Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Smithsonian Museum of American Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Walker Art Center The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. Her exhibitions include: 1937 Rene Rosenthal Gallery, New York City, New York. 1938 First California Ceramic Exhibition, San Diego, California 1940 Honolulu Academy of Art. 1947 Eleventh National Ceramics Exhibition, Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1970 Fredric Art Gallery, UCLA, Los Angeles, California. 1970 Laguna Beach Art Gallery. 1971 Mills College Art Gallery, Oakland, California. 1971 Hoover Art Gallery, San Francisco, California. 1971 San Diego Fine Arts Gallery, San Diego, California. 1971 Utah State University, Logan, Utah. 1972 Pasadena Art Museum, Pasadena, California. 1972 Ceramics West, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. 1972 Ogden Art Center, Ogden, Utah. 1972 Bower Museum, Santa Ana, California. 1973 Utah Museum of Fine Art, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1973 Clay and Fiber Gallery, Taos, New Mexico. 1973 California Crafts VIII, Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, California. 1974 California Ceramics...
Stoneware
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
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
$2,800
H 25 in W 36 in D 10 in
Mid-Century Modern Large Abstract Wood Table Sculpture after Don Shoemaker
By Wendell Castle, Don S. Shoemaker
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
$200Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.5 in W 4.25 in D 2 in
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
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 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
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
Otto and Gertrud Natzler Signed Yellow Green Glazed Bowl with Original Label
By Gertrud and Otto Natzler
Located in Studio City, CA
Another wonderfully glazed and delicately designed work by famed pottery masters Otto and Gertrud Natzler. This round-shaped, eggshell thin-wa...
Earthenware
$440
H 2 in W 5 in D 5 in
Don Shoemaker - Senal Exotic Mixed Hardwoods Rosewood Trinket Box Made in Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
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