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.
$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
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
Desk Card Holder, France, 1940s
Located in Palermo, IT
Desk card holder, France, 1940s Golden Spelter, one of the small studs on the front is missing. Lacks in the gilding, as evidenced by the descriptive photographs.
Spelter
$700Sale Price|30% Off
H 4.14 in W 2.88 in D 0.4 in
Guilloche silver card holder with gold interior and two business card holders
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Guilloche silver card case with gold interior and two business card holders. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Brand: Javali II Title. Weight: 130.04 grams. Dimensions:...
Silver
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
Gustavian Style Tissue Box Holder
Located in Sheffield, MA
Add a neoclassical country touch to your countertop or nightstand with a gold gilt edge grey painted galvanized tissue box cover. Add fashion and protection for your facial tissue. E...
Tin
$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 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
Italian Desk Box in Leather and Cut Glass, 1970s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful desk box or casket made of leather and cut glass. Made in Italy of the 1970s. The box is trimmed with smooth leather, a fine black leather edge and finely finished stitc...
Leather, Glass, Cut Glass, Wood
$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 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
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
Business Card Holder Hollywood Regency, 1970s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Den Haag, NL
Glamoureus business card holder. Gold plated Perspex. Hollywood Regency style 1970s Good condition.
Acrylic
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
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 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 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 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 S. Shoemaker Mexican Modern Inlaid Mixed Woods Parquetry Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Inlaid mixed woods parquetry tray created by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960s. Box measures 1.5" by 9" by 15" and is in very good vintage condition showing some wear conducive with age. Si...
Wood
Sold
H 2.5 in W 6.5 in D 5.5 in
Don S. Shoemaker Mexican Modern Inlaid Mixed Woods Parquetry Hinged Box
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Inlaid mixed woods parquetry box created by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960s. Box measures 2.25" by 6.5" by 5.5" and is in very good vintage condition showing some wear. Signed with the Do...
Wood
Large Exotic Mixed Wood Tray by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large rectangular wood tray designed by Don Shoemaker and handcrafted by SEN~AL, S.A. Mexico circa 1950. Using exotic local wood in Mexico such...
Wood
Vintage Don Shoemaker Rosewood Bookends, circa 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Antonio, TX
This vintage pair of bookends by Don Shoemaker are in overall good condition. Gorgeous light and dark wood tones. Solid and heavyweight, these bookends can hold strong. A beautiful a...
Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Rosewood Tray for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosewood tray by Don Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico, circa 1960s. The tray has a rosewood frame with integrated handles and features an inlaid striped pattern of highly figured rosewood...
Rosewood
Don S Shoemaker Cocobolo Coin Pen Holder Desk Organizer Tray, 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your pleasure: classy Don S Shoemaker Cocobolo wood coin pen holder desk organizer tray fine exotic cocobolo wood. Maker label stamped underneath, Don S Shoemaker, made in Mexico...
Cocobolo
1970s Don Shoemaker Briefcase
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
Exotic woods inlaid briefcase by the iconic woodmaster Don Shoemaker. Made in the 1970s in Michoacan Mexico. Comes with original label.
Hardwood
Wooden Box with Geometric Pattern by Don Shoemaker for Senal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wooden box with geometric pattern by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. Shoemaker is known for the marquetry in his work, which is clearly visible in the detailed design of the piece. The surface of this box has rectangular strips of varying Mexican hardwood veneers coming together at different angles, with the grain of each running in differing directions and whose points connect in the center. Marked on underside. Please inquire for a full list of Don Shoemaker products at DEN Los Angeles...
Rosewood
Sold
H 22 in W 15.5 in D 1.25 in
Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Inlaid Tray for Señal, circa 1970, Large Size Version
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Signed and exquisitely crafted rectangular shape tray designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, Shoemaker founded...
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Rosewood Inlaid Tray for Señal, circa 1970
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted slim rectangular shape tray designed by Don Shoemaker for Sen~al of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, Shoemaker founded Sen~...
Rosewood