Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
American, 1919-1990
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.
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Creator: Don S. Shoemaker
Don Shoemaker Solid Cocobolo Bookends for Señal, Mexico, c.1965
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Don Shoemaker Solid Cocobolo Bookends for Señal, Mexico, c.1965.
Category
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Wood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Solid Cocobolo for Señal Bookends, Mexico, c.1965
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Don Shoemaker Solid Cocobolo for Señal Bookends, Mexico, c.1965.
Category
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Wood, Cocobolo
Pair of Hand Carved Modern Mexican Cocobolo Wood Bookends by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of hand carved modern Mexican cocobolo wood bookends by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960s. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico. This design was included in the 2...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Bookends for Señal
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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Hardwood
Mexican Modern Bookends by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970. We offer this Hand carved bookends made in Cocobolo by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Include original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Wood
$500 / set
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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
$1,750 Sale Price
39% Off
Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Cocobolo
1960s Don Shoemaker Hand-Carved Cocobolo Wood Bookends a Pair
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1960s Don Shoemaker Hand-Carved Cocobolo Wood Bookends – Pair Mid Century Modern Mexican Design, Señal S.A.
Rare and exquisite pair of hand-carved cocobolo wood bookends by renowned...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Organic Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Wood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Cocobolo
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Previously Available Items
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Small Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
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Located in San Diego, CA
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Located in Los Angeles, CA
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
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Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
Materials
Cocobolo
Don S. Shoemaker home accents for sale on 1stDibs.
Don S. Shoemaker home accents are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Don S. Shoemaker home accents, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original home accents by Don S. Shoemaker were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. Prices for Don S. Shoemaker home accents can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $350 and can go as high as $1,750, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $595.
Questions About Don S. Shoemaker Home Accents
- 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.
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