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.
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 ...
Cocobolo
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...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Sculpted Rosewood & Leather Coffee Table for Señal Furniture
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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...
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
$20,212Sale Price|25% Off
Cocobolo Dining Table by Don S. Shoemaker, 1960s Modern Design
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chattanooga, TN
An architectural marvel in living form, this Cocobolo rosewood dining table by Don S. Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico, commands attention as both functional object and sculptural stateme...
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...
Leather, Cocobolo
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...
Cocobolo
$7,200Sale Price|21% Off
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...
Marble
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...
Wood
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 ...
Cocobolo
$4,800 / set
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...
Cocobolo
Rectangular coffee table – Italy 1960
Located in Girona, Girona
Rectangular coffee table in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer resting on four legs linked by a strut, two drawers acting as trays covered in red Formica opening at both ends, brass ...
Brass
French Modernist Cerused Side Table
Located in Westport, CT
Lovely Modernist square two-tiered table with strong and simple geometric forms Date: 1940ca Origin: France Dimension: 19 3/4? square, 21 1/2? high.
Oak
Mexican Modern Coffee Table
Located in Houston, TX
Mexican Modern Coffee Table. This stunning Mexican mid century modern cocktail table, coffee table or low table has a boomerang shaped top ...
Shagreen, Walnut
$1,798Sale Price|22% Off
H 29.14 in Dm 47.25 in
Dining Table Made In Rosewood By Vejle Furniture From 1960s
By Vejle Stole & Møbelfabrik
Located in Lejre, DK
This dining table epitomizes the elegance and craftsmanship synonymous with Danish design from the 1960s. Crafted from luxurious rosewood, renowned for its rich hues and distinctive...
Rosewood
$3,200
H 17 in W 48 in D 21 in
Danish Teak Mid-Century Modern Rectangular Coffee Table with Cane Shelf
By Dux of Sweden
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Danish medium size rectangular teak coffee table with rattan shelf.
Teak
Rectangular Coffee Table Veneered In Rosewood, Italy 1960's
Located in Hellouw, NL
Rectangular coffee table veneered in rosewood. At the first glance we see a lightness created by the clean lines of the frame. And the elongated rectangular shape creates an eleganc...
Rosewood
Handcrafted Modernist Side Drink Table
By SUM Furniture
Located in London, GB
Beautifully hand-turned and handcrafted English ash ripple side table in the modernist design. This is a bespoke piece of fine quality, handmade by master-craftsmen in solid English ...
Ash
$1,543Sale Price|59% Off
H 19.69 in W 33.47 in D 18.9 in
Mid-Century Italian Coffee Table with Marble Top, 'circa 1950s'
By Ico Parisi
Located in London, GB
Mid-century Italian coffee table with marble top in the style of Ico Parisi (1950s). A tan with white highlights, rectangular (with curved ends) marble top sits upon a very stylish b...
Marble
Sculpted Steel Patinated Coffee Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Large sculpted steel metal and glass coffee table constructed of six saber form legs joined by 2" thick flat bar box stretchers. The table is topped with recta...
Metal
$1,580
H 19.69 in W 51.19 in D 27.17 in
Mid Century Large Solid Rectangular Coffee Table in Pine, Danish Modern, 1960s
By Roland Wilhelmsson, Sven Larsson
Located in Odense, DK
A striking and generously proportioned rectangular coffee table in solid pine, crafted by a Danish cabinet maker in the 1960s. The design combines simplicity and strength, with a thi...
Pine
$2,242 / set
H 29.53 in W 94.89 in D 16.54 in
Mid-Century Modular Desk and Storage Unit by Mojmír Požár, UP Závody, 1960s
By M. Požár
Located in Praha, CZ
Mid-Century Modern multifunctional modular furniture set designed by Mojmír Požár and manufactured by UP Závody in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. This versatile composition includes a ...
Glass, Wood
$4,600
H 15 in W 50 in D 21 in
Rectangle Rattan Cane Shelf Glass Top Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table Mint!
By McGuire, Ficks Reed
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Rectangle Rattan cane shelf glass top Mid-Century Modern coffee table mint!.
Rattan, Glass, Bamboo
Don Shoemaker Dining Table for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
From designer Don Shoemaker for his company Señal, c.1960s, Mexico, this Rosewood table makes an intriguing statement from any angle. The tabletop is supported by two sculpted foldin...
Rosewood
Sold
H 15.74 in W 21.5 in D 45.6 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...
Rosewood
Sold
H 30.25 in W 39.25 in D 39.25 in
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...
Rosewood, Cocobolo
Sold
H 30 in W 74 in D 38 in
Rare Exotic Cocobolo Rosewood Dining Table by Don Shoemaker for Senal, Signed
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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...
Rosewood
Sold
H 16.75 in W 24.25 in D 20.25 in
1950s Don Shoemaker Señal Side Table Exotic Cocobolo Marquetry Michoacan Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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 ...
Cocobolo
Cocobolo Rosewood Tray Table by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c. 1970
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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...
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Sling Collection Round Game Table by Don Shoemaker
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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 ...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker 'Cuerno' Rosewood Coffee Table
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Antonio, TX
The 'Cuerno' coffee table is one of the few pieces crafted from Cocobolo, the tropical hardwood, by Don Shoemaker, circa1970s In good condition, with minor wear to tabletop and leg...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Dining Table Midcentury Mexican Modernist
By Don S. Shoemaker
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...
Cocobolo
Don S. Shoemaker Rosewood Tray for Señal Furniture
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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...
Rosewood, Cocobolo
1970s Don Shoemaker "Perno" Side Table
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
1970s Don Shoemaker "Perno" side table. All original.
Hardwood
Sling Collection “Mesa Redonda” by Don Shoemaker for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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...
Cocobolo