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.
$208Sale Price|20% Off
Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Cutting Board and Salt and Pepper Shakers
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Cutting board or serving tray and mixed exotic woods salt and pepper shakers by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original label from his w...
Wood
$240Sale Price|20% Off
Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Wood Trays
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of four serving trays or plates by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker, from his workshop in Señal Mexico. Designer Don Shoemaker ( was born in Nebraska and studied at the Art Inst...
Wood
Don Shoemaker Salt and Pepper Set with Tray of Rosewood, Oak and Mixed Woods
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice and great modern desgin in this rare set by Don Shoemaker.
Wood
Don Shoemaker Small Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating geometric marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwood...
Hardwood, Rosewood
$1,500
H 0.79 in W 14.18 in D 17.33 in
Don Shoemaker Large Serving Tray /Cutting Board Made with Different Woods
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
This is a Mexican wood tray, cutting board or serving platter made in 1960s in Michoacan, Mexico by Don Shoemaker. It is in excelllent condition and...
Hardwood
Flowers Golden Wood Lacquered Tray
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
There are many trays but very few are as beautiful as this golden lacquered tray elegant with a 40s vibe but at the same time modern and contemporary A unique piece for your table ...
Wood
Don Shoemaker Serving Tray
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...
Wood
Ceramic Pair Salt and Pepper Shakers Cows Figurine
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage pair of ceramic salt and pepper shakers - two cute cow figurines.
Ceramic
$92Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1.5 in W 2.25 in D 2.25 in
Vintage Wood Sculpted Round Salt and Pepper Shaker Set
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and unique set of salt and pepper shakers. This pair is handmade in polished finished wood that shows beautiful grain. Each piece has fine details such as the "S" and "P" p...
Wood
$637Sale Price|25% Off
H 1.25 in W 15 in D 9 in
Mid-Century Modern Don Shoemaker Señal Service Tray Exotic Wood
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a mid-century modern Don S Shoemaker Señal service tray exotic woods. Mexico circa the 1980s. Geometric parquetry. Stamp present. Dimensions: 1.25" D x 15" L...
Wood
$1,000 / item
H 1.75 in W 8.25 in D 21.75 in
1970s Don Shoemaker Service Tray Exotic Wood Señal Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s Designed by Don Shoemaker produced by Señal Mexico Midcentury single Service Tray wall decor in exotic woods Cut out handle for easy carry. 21.75 long 8.25 w x 1.75 h More tray...
Wood
Fornasetti salt and pepper shakers with an additional container
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Set of three condiment containers. By Piero Fornasetti c 1950
Porcelain
French Art Deco Salt and Pepper Shakers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful pair of silver plate salt and pepper shakers from France, 1930s. Lovely tulip shape body with twist off top. Perfect as shakers or decorative objects. Sold as a pair.
Silver Plate
$231Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.63 in Dm 2.56 in
Jonas Design Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, Steel and Plastic, Modern
Located in Bochum, NRW
A particularly elegant salt and pepper set created by a contemporary designer with an appetite for the small and beautiful things in life. Beauty is not only in large household items...
Steel
$495
H 0.5 in W 14 in D 6 in
Expertly Restored - Don S. Shoemaker Rosewood Oval Tray for Señal Furniture
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Wood
Don Shoemaker Interlocking Salt and Pepper Sets for Senal
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in McKinney, TX
Exquisitely crafted interlocking salt and pepper sets designed by Don Shoemaker for Sen~al of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, Shoemaker founde...
Rosewood
Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Wood Trays
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of four serving trays or plates by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker, 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 Inlay Trivet
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An "x" trivet by designer Don Shoemaker for Señal of Mexico. The trivet is composed of varied exotic rosewoods inlaid in a linear pattern. ...
Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Salt and Pepper Set
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
Very special Salt and Pepper set. Very nice craftsmanship made of different wood species by master wood maker Don Shoemaker in Michoacan Mexico. ...
Hardwood
Don Shoemaker Block Salt & Pepper Shakers for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of Don Shoemaker for Señal salt and pepper shakers. The hand carved minimalist rosewood shakers feature a graduated block design. Each piece features five expertly drilled holes ...
Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Tall Block Salt & Pepper Shakers for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of Don Shoemaker for Señal salt and pepper shakers. The hand carved minimalist rosewood shakers feature a graduated block design. Each piece features five expertly drilled holes ...
Rosewood
Don Shoemaker "Elephant" Salt and Pepper
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in New York, NY
Nesting salt and pepper shakers handcrafted of Cocobolo wood by Don Shoemaker of Senal, Mexico, circa 1970s. Shoemaker was an American expat who set up an artisan atelier in the hint...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Large Service Tray #2 Midcentury Mexican Modernist
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
We are pleased to offer for your consideration a Large service tray by Don S Shoemaker. Beautiful geometric woodwork with exotic woods. A small hole on the back of the tray allows ea...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Small Service Tray #1 Midcentury Mexican Modernist
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
We are pleased to offer for your consideration a small service tray by Don S Shoemaker. Beautiful geometric woodwork with exotic woods. A small hole on the back of the tray allows ea...
Cocobolo
Salt and Pepper Sets by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Original crafted salt and pepper set designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal Santa Maria de Guido, Mexico, circa 1970.
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo, Rosewood Inlaid Trays for Señal, circa 1970
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted rectangular shaped trays designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, Shoemaker founded Señal ...
Ash, Maple, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Mixed Woods Parquetry Serving Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in New Windsor, NY
Mixed woods tray designed by Don Shoemaker and produced by Senal, circa 1970-1980. Made of mixed hardwoods like rosewood and cocobolo. Fully signed on the underside. Very good, origi...
Birch, Maple, Rosewood, Cocobolo