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.
$3,395Sale Price|32% Off
Don Shoemaker Folding Arm Chair, Mexico c.1960
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Two available. Price per chair. Please message. Original folding arm chairs designed by Don Shoemaker for Senal SA. Can be used as dining chair or accent chair. The chair is...
Rosewood, Teak
$3,395Sale Price|32% Off
Don Shoemaker Folding Arm Chair, Mexico c.1960
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Two chairs available-price per chair. Please message. Original folding arm chair designed by Don Shoemaker for Senal SA. Can be used as dining chair or accent chair. The cha...
Rosewood, Teak
Don Shoemaker Sling Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Denton, TX
The iconic beautiful mexican modern Don Shoemaker "sling" chair. Made for Señal S.A. Made from solid Cocobolo Wood with original black leather. Made in the 1960s
Leather, Cocobolo
$2,850Sale Price|35% Off
H 33 in W 30.5 in D 30 in
Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A. Cocobolo Rosewood 'Swinger' Rocking Chair, Signed
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Named the 'Swinger Chair' for its pivoting mechanism that allows you to swing in your seat, this incredible cocobolo rosewood and black leather 'Swinger' rocking armchair by leading 1960s modernist designer Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A. (Mexico) is highly sought after by interior designers and avid collectors alike. The thick black leather hides used for the sling are complemented with leather buttons connecting the sling to the frame of the chair. Matching black leather removable seat cushion has beautiful patina as can be seen in the photos. Artistically sculpted exotic cocobolo rosewood put together in an eye catching and interesting biomorphic form with shoemaker's signature rosewood insert accents for the feet and upper back of the chair. Exceptional craftsmanship utilizing innovative links and joints. Metal brackets connecting the seat to the frame allow the chair to gently rock - consider this as a nursing chair for the design-centric home. Senal S.A. label on lower bar of chair. Mexican modern is a style that fits incredibly well with Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian or Danish Modern, Brazilian Modern, and Hollywood Regency. It is also a great addition for interior designers to turn an otherwise simple contemporary space and add a splash of wild and interesting. Whether you are designing a Mid-Century Modern home, contemporary, post-modern or french neoclassical apartment, this Don Shoemaker Swinger...
Leather, Rosewood
$1,627Sale Price|25% Off
H 36.23 in W 24.41 in D 24.81 in
Don S. Shoemaker Sling Folding Armchair, 1960s Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Original design by Don S. Shoemaker, made in Santa María de Guido, Michoacán, Méx. This armchair is being offered without the leather, but it was professionally restored to bring out...
Wood
$3,750 / set
H 32.49 in W 24.02 in D 15.36 in
Set of two Spanish Chairs and a Medieval Stool by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
What truly distinguishes this set are two extraordinary qualities: its untouched continuity and its remarkable rarity. First, this is the original three-piece ensemble, preserved ex...
Pine
Expertly Restored - Don Shoemaker Folding Leather & Rosewood Stool
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Don Shoemaker Folding Leather & Rosewood Stool for Señal Furniture ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringin...
Leather, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Perno Safari Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather safari lounge chair by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. The chair features a rosewood cocobolo frame and original patinated black leather hide. Leather showcases a s...
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Rare Mexican Small Folding Stool Attributed to Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Amazing, rare and interesting folding stool, it can be used as magazine rack, circa 1960.
Pine
$5,221
H 32.68 in W 30.71 in D 28.75 in
Mexican Modern, Don S Shoemaker, Sling Swinger chair with footstool, 1960's
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Uccle, BE
Iconic Don S. Shoemaker Sling Swinger chair with footrest. Made from cocobolo (Mexican rosewood) and black leather in the 1960s. The biomorphic lines of the exotic rosewood create an...
Leather, Cocobolo
Mexican Mid-Century Modernist Don Shoemaker Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare an amazing chair designed by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960.
Wood, Pine
$4,160Sale Price / set|37% Off
H 32.5 in W 31 in D 28.5 in
Don Shoemaker Sling "Swinger" Chair and Ottoman, Mexico 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Camden, ME
A Classic 20th century chair and ottoman from one of the great craftsman's workshops of Mexico: Senal, S.A., Don Shoemaker's tropical paradise in Michoacan, Mexico. This iconic chai...
Leather, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Sling Swinger Chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Long Island City, NY
A leader of Mexico Modernism, Don Shoemaker created the “Sling” chair in the 1950s and designed variations through the 1960s, including the “Swinger” armchair you see here. Our versi...
Cocobolo, Granadillo, Leather
$3,600
H 32 in W 24 in D 27 in
Mid Century Rosewood & Black Leather Folding Lounge Chair by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage mid century modern armchair was designed in the 1950s by Don Shoemaker and produced by Señal, S.A., Mexico circa 1960. A leading mid century Mexican modernist, Shoemaker...
Leather, Wood, Rosewood
Pair of Don Shoemaker Dining Chairs
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Pair of Don Shoemaker dining chairs (F84C), original leather on the seat and back, reversible seat and original buttons too. Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at T...
Leather, Granadillo
Eight Don Shoemaker Cocobolo and Leather Dining Chairs
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Set of eight Donald Shoemaker dining chairs, circa early 1960s. These all original examples are sculpted sold cocobolo and retain their original patinated black leather upholstery. P...