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.
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
$4,000 / set
Rosewood Lounge Chair and Ottoman Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
Crafted in beautiful rosewood, the lounge chair and ottoman was an iconic design by Don Shoemaker for Senal. The chair with a rocking seat and the folding ottoman...
Leather, Rosewood
Rosewood and leather lounge Chair and Ottoman Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
Crafted in beautiful rosewood, the lounge chair and ottoman was an iconic design by Don Shoemaker for Senal. The chair with a rocking seat and the folding ottoman...
Leather, Rosewood
$20,351 / set
H 35.44 in W 38.19 in D 38.19 in
Set of Two beige Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman for Knoll, USA, 1960s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of two Early Eero Saarinen womb chairs and ottoman for Knoll, USA - 1960s. Newly upholstered in a Knoll fabric. The measurements giv...
Metal
Ib Kofod-Larsen Reclining Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Highland, IN
This reclining lounge chair and ottoman by Ib Kofod-Larsen combines sexy lines, incredible comfort, and great function. The chair features five positions of recline accommodating eve...
Birch, Upholstery
$4,968
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
Milo Baughman Style Parsons Lounge Chair and Matching Ottoman
By Milo Baughman
Located in New York, NY
Milo Baughman style Parsons lounge chair and matching ottoman. Tufted back and newly upholstered. Mid-Century Modern. Meas...
Fabric
1950s 6 Band Bamboo Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Art Deco
By Paul Frankl
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning 1950s 6 band bamboo lounge chair and ottoman, Art Deco style, bamboo in amazing original condition, recently reupholstered reversible loose cus...
Fabric, Bamboo
Vintage Milo Baughman Thayer Coggin Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Milo Baughman
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage Milo Baughman Thayer Coggin Lounge Chair and Ottoman Rare 70s lounge chair and ottoman. Fiberglass back and base with matching ottoman rai...
Composition
Swedish Mid-Century Bentwood Swiveling Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stylish Swedish modern swiveling lounge chair and ottoman. Sleek design with leather upholstery and rosewood frames and bases. A quality piece that is sure to please in any modern in...
Leather, Wood
$13,596Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 25.6 in D 26.8 in
Ole Wanscher's Colonial Chair and Ottoman in Rosewood, 1950s
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Seattle, WA
This is a rare and in exceptional condition Ole Wanscher's Colonial Chair and Ottoman in Rosewood, with original black leather cushions as well as a new set of new Maharam Sorghum brown cushions. Poul Jeppesen in Denmark c1950s and distributed by Illums Bolighus with solid rosewood for the frame, cane seating under black leather cushion seating. Perhaps the most famous design by Ole Wanscher, the Colonial Chair PJ 149 is inspired by 17th century English furniture...
Leather, Cane, Rosewood
Oversized Art Deco Streamline Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Donald Deskey
Located in Buffalo, NY
Oversized, elongated Art Deco streamline lounge chair and ottoman. Extremely comfortable, down filled, nice quality and construction. Chair an...
Wood, Fabric
$2,800Sale Price|36% 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
$3,750 / set
H 35.75 in W 35 in D 36 in
Mid-Century Leather and Chrome Reclining Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Milo Baughman
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Experience the perfect blend of comfort, craftsmanship, and timeless mid-century design with this exceptional vintage reclining lounge chair and matching ottoman, crafted in the Unit...
Chrome
$2,795 / set
H 37 in W 30.75 in D 29 in
Westnofa Style Mid Century Tufted Leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Westnofa Furniture
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Westnofa Style Mid Century tufted leather lounge chair and ottoman The chair measures: 30.75 wide x 29 deep x 37 high, with...
Leather, Wood
$5,910Sale Price|40% Off
H 37 in W 45.5 in D 72 in
Italian Chrome Tufted Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Stendig
By Stendig Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This lounge chair and ottoman by Stendig is quite the show stopper. It features overlapping curvilinear supports in chrome that attach to the base of each piece. It may look like a...
Chrome
Don Shoemaker Leather Rosewood Sofa
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in New York, NY
Don Shoemaker leather and rosewood sofa.
Leather, Wood, Cocobolo
Pair of Vladimir Attributed Lounge Chairs and Ottomans
By Directional, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Vladimir attributed lounge chairs and ottomans, reupholstered with Italian Boucle. Preview Label on underside Measures: Ottoman H 17" W 24.75" D 22.5".
Bouclé, Upholstery
Sold
H 17.13 in W 20.75 in D 17.63 in
Don Shoemaker Folding Leather & Rosewood Stool for Señal Furniture
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Denton, TX
Don Shoemaker Folding leather & rosewood stool for Señal Furniture. Recently re-corded in a beautiful black bolo leather cord.
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 32.29 in W 30.32 in D 28.35 in
Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A. Cocobolo Swinger Chair and Ottoman, Original Label
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960, We offer this 'Swinger Chair' named for its pivoting mechanism that allows you to swing in your seat, this incredible Cocobolo Rosewood and black leather 'Swinger' chair ...
Cocobolo
Rosewood and Leather Stool or Ottoman by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Norwalk, CT
A very nice example of Don Shoemaker great craftsmanship this amazing stool in stunning rosewood and leather is not only a piece of function but one of art!
Rosewood
Rosewood and Leather Lounge Chair with Ottoman Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
Crafted in beautiful Mexican rosewood, the lounge chair and ottoman was an iconic design by Don Shoemaker for Senal. The design was influenced by Spanish Colonial style and took adva...
Leather, Rosewood