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 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
$4,999
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
$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 Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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
Don Shoemaker Sling Chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
Don Shoemaker Spanish Chair or "Silla Partera"
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Known as "Silla Partera", the Spanish chair belongs to a series of furniture that Don Shoemaker named "Línea Colonial". More than a chair is an object art, and it is a good opportuni...
Pine
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
Don Shoemaker Leather Rosewood Sofa
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in New York, NY
Don Shoemaker leather and rosewood sofa.
Leather, Wood, Cocobolo
$7,800 / set
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
$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 Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
$2,888Sale Price|24% Off
H 27.5 in W 23.5 in D 27.5 in
Rosewood and Leather 'Sloucher' Lounge Chair by Don Shoemaker, 1960s, Signed
By Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An iconic example of Mexican modernist craftsmanship, this original “Sloucher” lounge chair was designed by Don Shoemaker for Senal, Mexico, circa 1960s. Executed in richly grained solid rosewood with its original thick saddle leather sling seat and bearing the original Senal S.A. label, this sculptural lounge chair represents one of Shoemaker’s most celebrated and enduring designs. Don Shoemaker is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Mexican modern furniture...
Leather, Rosewood
Mexican Folding Stool by 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 and designed by Don Shoemaker, includes original handmade label.
Pine
$6,004Sale Price / set|24% Off
H 33 in W 30.5 in D 30 in
Don Shoemaker Rosewood and Leather 'Swinger' Chair and Ottoman, 1960s, 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 rosewood and black leather 'Swinger' rocking armchair and ottoman by leadi...
Leather, Rosewood
$4,232 / item
H 37.41 in W 22.84 in D 37.41 in
Don Shoemaker Sling Sloucher Chairs Señal, Sculptural and Organic, Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Don S. Shoemaker (1919-1990) was a US (NE) born Mexican designer and painter, probably the most representative designer of Mexico Modernist furniture...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 36.5 in W 24 in D 23.5 in
Don Shoemaker for Senal Folding / Adjustable Chairs in Rosewood & Leather 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A sculptural pair of mid-century folding arm chairs (priced individually) by celebrated Mexican designer Don Shoemaker for Señal S.A., crafted circa 1960s. These handcrafted armchair...
Leather, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Rosewood Swinger Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Oakland, CA
Swinger rosewood chair designed by Don Shoemaker. Solid cocobolo rosewood frame with doweled joints, handcrafted in Mexico, late 1950s. Newly restored and upholstered in black leather.
Leather, Cocobolo
Pair of Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Chairs
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a pair of Cocobolo chairs by Don Shoemaker. Black leather seat and back rest covers.
Cocobolo, Leather
A rare zig zag cocobolo wood chair Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very sculptural and rather rare zig zag chair by celebrated Mexican designer and woodworker Don Shoemaker, model no F52. Designed in 1970s and executed in 1981, the chair is constr...
Cocobolo