Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
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.
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Cocobolo
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Wood, Cocobolo
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Leather
1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Plastic
Early 19th Century English Antique Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Rosewood
1980s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Ceramic, Leather, Suede
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Acrylic
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Early 20th Century Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Silver
Early 20th Century English Jacobean Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Louis XVI Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Tin
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Jacaranda, Mahogany, Rosewood, Cocobolo
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Desk Sets
Cocobolo
Don S. Shoemaker desk sets for sale on 1stDibs.
- 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.