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Don S. Shoemaker Tables

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
Vintage Mexican Modern Coffee/Cocktail Table by Don Shoemaker, Cocobolo Rosewood
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Round Rock, TX
Parquet top coffee table designed by Don S. Shoemaker for Senal S.A. Mexico 1960's. A beautiful example of Don Shoemaker’s craftsmanship, this smaller scale coffee table showcases ...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Rosewood, Cocobolo

Rare Solid Mexican Cocobolo Wood Desk Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
A bespoken and rare desk by celebrated Mexican designer and woodworker Don Shoemaker, model no F46. Designed in 1970s and executed in 1981, the desk is constructed with patchwork of ...
Category

1980s Mexican Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Cocobolo

Don Shoemaker Sculpted Rosewood & Leather Coffee Table for Señal Furniture
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo

Mexican Modern, Rectangular coffee table, 1960's Don S. Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Uccle, BE
Label: Señal S.A.Hecho en Mexico. Cocobolo wood and black leather mid-century modern coffee table from the sixties. The leather has a beautiful sensual feel and is in excellent cond...
Category

20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Leather, Cocobolo

Cocobolo Dining Table by Don S. Shoemaker
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Wanna be a bond villain in real life? Well here's your chance. Certain pieces just command respect and deserve appreciation for their flawless design. "WTF?" is typically the first thing uttered when people see this on our showroom floor. A literal jaw-droppper, regardless of whether installing as a dining table, desk or conference table. Lovingly restored by our in-house cabinet shop, this cocobolo wood table by Don S. Shoemaker is a rare find. Geometry and brutalism intertwine to form an architectural masterpiece of function and form. Staved slats of offset cocobolo form a brilliant patchwork that covers every visible inch of both the top and bottom sections. The grain and color tones vary in each slat to create a stunning visual contrast throughout. The pedestal and top separate easily without any screws or bolts. The table top has a grid-work of rails underneath that sink into corresponding notches on the base. The base is brilliantly assembled with a hollow interior to keep the weight to a minimum. This massive construction is surprisingly totable, without compromising rigidity or stability. Although we're uncertain on the production quantity, the total number is probably quite minuscule. Tagged with its original label and numbered #6 in several locations. About the designer: Furniture designer Don Shoemaker was born in Nebraska to an affluent family. During the 1930s, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he married and subsequently, on his honeymoon, fell in love with Mexico. He loved the country so much that later in the 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his wife. Shoemaker lived and painted in a town called Santa Maria de Guido, overseeing the City of Morelia in Michoacán. Don and his wife Barbara lived in harmony with nature, growing many rare plants in their greenhouse. Don became inspired by the tropical woods of Mexico and began to manufacture furniture from these precious timbers. What began as a small factory in the late 1950s became known as Señal S.A and grew to where Don employed more than a hundred skilled artisans. Soon he became an important figure in the economic and cultural life of his adopted town. Señal S.A brought new wealth and an economic boost to the town, and Dom was known for his warm and charitable heart. The furniture designed for Señal S.A by Don were modern interpretations of traditional Mexican furnishings. Many of his iconic designs were inspired by traditional Mexican woodwork. The pieces made from Cocobolo, a Mexican rosewood, and other precious woods were highly sought after. The furniture was exported to showrooms in Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and large Mexican cities. His designs were liked very much by wealthy Mexican families...
Category

1960s Mexican Post-Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Cocobolo

Rectangular Table Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas
Extraordinary table by Don Shoemaker made of cocobolo wood, a variety of Mexican rosewood. The surface of the round table is inlaid with marquetry in ...
Category

1960s Mexican Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Cocobolo

Rare Corner Table by Mexican Mid-Century Modernist Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare an amazing corner table designed by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960, this piece is very rare and hard to find, a perfect piece for the Don Shoemaker collectors, includes...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Wood

Rosewood and Marble Table, Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
A square dining or game table by Don Shoemaker for Senal, Mexico, circa 1970. Solid Mexican rosewood Cocobolo frame with carved organic forms and join...
Category

1970s Mexican Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Marble

Don Shoemaker Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table with Leather Top
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this fantastic coffee table made in pieces of solid cocobolo wood with leather top designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal S.A., circa 1960 About Don Shoemaker: Coming from an affluent family, Don was originally from Nebraska. During the 1930s he studied at the fine Arts Institute of Chicago thinking to become a painter. Visiting Mexico for his honeymoon he fell in love with the country and he finally decided to move to Mexico in the late 1940s. He lived for a while and painted in San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato, but finally he settled down in a little uphill town called Santa María de Guido, overseeing the city of Morelia, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico.   Don began the manufacture of his furniture in tropical precious woods and other wood products. What started as a little factory in the late 1950s called SEÑAL, S.A., grew to the point where Don employed more than a hundred skilled craftsmen. Soon Shoemaker became an important milestone of the economic and cultural life of his adopted home. SEÑAL, S.A. brought great wealth and economical boost to the village and Don was well known for his good heart and charity projects.   Don S. Shoemaker delivered furniture pieces in to his showrooms in Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston and large cities in Mexico. His designs were very much appreciated by wealthy Mexican families...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Cocobolo

Two Rosewood Nesting Tables, Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of two nesting tables made by Don Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico, circa 1960s. Heavy cubist construction with minimalist form and exposed dove joins and point joints. The surface...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Cocobolo

Don Shoemaker\ Jacaranda, Coconut & Mesquite Dining/ Center/ Games Table
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Queens, NY
Mexican Modern Jacaranda, Coconut and Mesquite Dining/ Center/ Games Table (DON SHOEMAKER)
Category

20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Wood

Modernist Sofa Table by Don S. Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A modernist piece designed in Mexico by Don S Schumacher. Exotic Cocobolo wood that could easily be mistaken for rosewood. Lacquer finish. The perfect corner maker for a sofa...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Cocobolo

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Previously Available Items
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

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Don Shoemaker Dining Table for Señal
Don Shoemaker Dining Table for Señal
H 30 in W 73.75 in D 37.75 in
Don Shoemaker Senal S.A. Cocobolo Rosewood Parquetry Table, Mid Century
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare parquetry rosewood table in wonderful condition, Don Shoemaker 1960 We also have a rare sofa available from Don Shoemaker. A sculptural masterpiece by Don Shoemaker. We have this table in our collection at the moment together with a matching sofa...
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

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1960s Don Shoemaker Sling Collection Round Dining Table Exotic Cocobolo Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Round Dining TABLE exquisite exotic cocobolo wood marquetry designed by Don S Shoemaker Mexico 1960s Shoemaker's Sling collection Mesa Redonda F12 prod...
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

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Rare Exotic Cocobolo Rosewood Dining Table by Don Shoemaker for Senal, Signed
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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This extremely rare and highly coveted sculptural dining table in exotic Cocobolo Rosewood was designed by leading 1960s modernist designer Don Shoemaker and is signed with a partial Senal S.A. label on the underside. We fully restored this gorgeous piece in a French Polish which is the most expensive and labor intensive finish available due to the numerous hand applied layers, but it is worth every penny as it provides a smooth and hard surface which accentuates the exotic wood grain while providing a protective surface for every day use. Crafted of exotic woods, the top features a stunning patchwork array of Cocobolo Rosewood parquetry inlay which connects to solid Zebrawood articulating legs that connect via wooden pegs. With the pegs removed, the biomorphic sculpted legs can fold and pack near-flat making transport of this table easy and works great for transformable spaces - if you are having a party and need to make space for a dance floor- simply stow away this table and now you have space to get the party started. This extremely rare and highly sought after work of art is ideal for avid collectors and investors of modern art and interior designers who have a client looking for the best of the best. This table is the pièce de résistance for Don Shoemaker collectors and this particular example is exquisite as it is signed with a partial original label and is in stunning condition. Mexican Modern is a style that fits incredibly well with Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern, Danish Modern, Brazilian Modern, Art Deco, Classical 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. Also consider this Don Shoemaker for Senal SA...
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

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1950s Don Shoemaker Señal Side Table Exotic Cocobolo Marquetry Michoacan Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Exotic Cocobolo Table Side Table crafted by Señal: Designer DON SHOEMAKER made in Cocobolo Wood Marquetry. Handcrafted in Michoacan Mexico 1950s Don Shoemaker furnishings are highly ...
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1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

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Cocobolo Rosewood Tray Table by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c. 1970
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted rectangular shape tray table designed by Don Shoemaker for Sen~al, crafted in circa 1970s Mexico. The tray has cocobolo rosewood inlays formed in a intriguing pat...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Tables

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Sling Collection Round Game Table by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
The Sling round tables collection were manufactured in the 1960s and were produced in tropical woods and other local rosewood species as cocobolo and cueramo, the marquetry top were ...
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Don Shoemaker 'Cuerno' Rosewood Coffee Table
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Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Dining Table Midcentury Mexican Modernist
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Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a dining table made with cocobolo wood by Don S Shoemaker. Beautiful solid wood. Retains label from the maker. Round shape, Mexico, circa 1960s. Dimensions: 3...
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Don S. Shoemaker Rosewood Tray for Señal Furniture
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Beautiful tray designed by Don S. Shoemaker for Señal Furniture in Mexico, circa 1960s. This tray features a nicely crafted Cocobolo rosewood butterfly slim shape with integrated han...
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1970s Don Shoemaker "Perno" Side Table
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1970s Don Shoemaker "Perno" Side Table
1970s Don Shoemaker "Perno" Side Table
H 13.78 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
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By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An F-12 dining table from Don Shoemaker’s Sling Collection, this round table makes an intriguing statement from any angle. The tabletop is supported by a deeply recessed cluster of f...
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Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Tables

Materials

Cocobolo

Don S. Shoemaker tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Don S. Shoemaker tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider tables by Muller of Mexico, Senal, and Genaro Alvarez.

Creators Similar to Don S. Shoemaker

Questions About Don S. Shoemaker Tables
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024
    The 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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