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.
$20,212Sale Price|25% Off
Cocobolo Dining Table by Don S. Shoemaker, 1960s Modern Design
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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
$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
$3,500
H 29 in W 37 in D 37 in
Chunky Mid Century Modern Oak and Cork Square Dining Table or Game Table
By John Richardson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning and gorgeous square dining or card table circa 1960s. It features a simple modern design with a chunky stained oak frame and a cork top. The top has glass.
Oak, Glass, Cork
$2,895
H 15.5 in W 46 in D 21.5 in
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
$2,964Sale Price|24% Off
H 27.25 in W 28 in D 28 in
1970s Mastercraft Sculptural Brass Dining / Game / Center Table Base
By Mastercraft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This striking 1970s Mastercraft brass dining or game table base exemplifies the bold sculptural glamour for which the American luxury manufacturer is celebrated. Crafted in brass wit...
Brass
$19,900Sale Price|30% Off
H 28.5 in W 48 in D 48 in
VK201 Rosewood Dining Table by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, 1958, Signed
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare and important model #VK-201 sculptured Rosewood and Walnut 'Round Extension Dining Table' by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss was designed in 1958, this example produced between 1958 and 1960, during Kagan's partnership with Hugo Dreyfuss which ended in 1960. This rare example is stamped with the Kagan-Dreyfuss branded marks on the underside of the table and under one of the two leaves, and serves as an important early example of this sought-after design, perfect for collectors, art and design investors, and interior designers working on high profile projects. This Model VK-201, described in Kagan's early catalogues as a 'Round Extension Dining Table in walnut with rosewood top' has Kagan's signature gorgeous sculpted legs in solid walnut along with a magnificent vivid-grained Rosewood top. Just look at the closeup photos of the sculpted edges and tailored legs... this table looks more like a sculpture than merely just furniture. Quality of materials and craftsmanship you don't find in todays products - this table is the epitome of the saying 'they don't make them like they used to'. Ultra refinement in this gorgeous collectors piece which extends from a dining or card / game / cafe table seating for four, to a larger dining or meeting table suitable for eight. With no leaves - the table is 48" round and with both leaves extends to 96" while retaining a very nice 48" width. Vladimir Kagan's works have been highly valued by collectors and art / design investors, and his earlier works in the 1950s partnership with Hugo Dreyfuss (Kagan-Dreyfuss from 1950 to 1960) are among the most sought after by 'purist collectors' like myself. Why do I prize his 1950s works above all else? I can write a short book on this, but one easy to explain reason is that this was a period unlike the rest of his career, where items produced in this time are hallmarked within that period - a distinction that his later works lacked. Essentially, everything post the early 60s blended together with the decades thereafter. A novice Kagan collector is content with anything by Kagan, even items produced by Directional and American Leather Company...
Walnut, Rosewood
Mid-century Walnut and Brushed Steel Table by Jack Cartwright
By Jack Cartwright, Founders Furniture Company
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing mid-century modern table by Jack Cartwright for founder in the United States, circa 1960s. It features a book-matched walnut top, an X-shaped stretcher, and brushed steel leg...
Steel
Iconoclast Modern Hardwood Dining Table by Izm Design
By Izm Design
Located in Edmonton, Alberta
The Iconoclast dining table is made of 100% solid, hardwood and features a unique pedestal base. This piece commands attention and is the perfect centre piece for any open plan dinin...
Hardwood
Elegant Edward Wormley Rosewood Dinette / Game Table for Dunbar
By Milo Baughman, Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley, Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Elegant Edward Wormley dinette or game table for Dunbar. Appears to be rosewood. wear to the finish. May desire to have restored some.
Wood
Iconoclast Modern Hardwood Dining Table by Izm
Located in Edmonton, Alberta
The Iconoclast dining table is made of 100% solid, hardwood and features a unique pedestal base. This piece commands attention and is the perfect center piece for any open plan dinin...
Hardwood
$11,005 / item
H 29.53 in W 47.25 in D 122.05 in
Modern by Giuseppe Carpanelli Desyo Dining Table Walnut Wood with Leather
By Carpanelli
Located in Desio, IT
Fixed oval top. The base can be covered in eco-leather, eco-nabuk, real leather or real nabuk. The top is enriched by sunburst inlays in essence of Canaletto Walnut wood. This piece ...
Leather, Walnut
Artedi Post Modern Marble Glass Dining Table
By Artedi
Located in Sheffield, MA
Made in Italy, this 20th century glass, marble and brass accented dining table by noted Italian furniture maker, Artedi, makes a statement in ...
Marble, Brass
$18,995 / item
H 30 in W 132 in D 48 in
FLOAT DINING TABLE - Modern Bleached White Oak Dining Table w/ Silver Leaf Bases
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
FLOAT DINING TABLE - Modern Bleached White Oak Dining Table w/ Silver Leaf Bases The Float Dining Table is a stunning and modern piece of furniture...
Silver Leaf
Expanding Walnut Dining Table of Midcentury Design
By Petersen Antiques
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large walnut dining table with extension leaf (100" x 60", expanding to 128" x 60). with beautifully matched, solid walnut planks. Because each table is bench-made in our own Los A...
Walnut
Don Shoemaker Dining Table for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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 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 Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
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
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