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.
Modernist Don Shoemaker "El Cargador" Signed Color Etching Limited Edition of 22
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Very hard to come by color etching by famous Mexican furniture designer Don Shoemaker, dating from 1951. Hand signed, numbered and titled on...
Modernist Don Shoemaker "El Padre" Signed Color Etching Limited Edition of 22
By Don S. Shoemaker, Diego Rivera
Located in San Diego, CA
Very hard to come by color etching by famous Mexican furniture designer Don Shoemaker, dating from 1950. Hand signed, numbered and titled on...
Modernist Don Shoemaker "El Rostro" Signed Color Etching Limited Edition of 22
By Diego Rivera, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Very hard to come by color etching by famous Mexican furniture designer Don Shoemaker, dating from 1950. Hand signed, numbered and titled on...
$2,000
H 36.23 in W 18.51 in D 22.84 in
Rare Chair Hand Painted by Mexican Mid-Century Modernist Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare an amazing chair hand painted designed by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960, includes
Wood, Pine
Don Shoemaker Spanish Chair or "Silla Partera"
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
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
$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
Rare Mexican Small Folding Stool Attributed to 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.
Pine
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
$522Sale Price|45% Off
H 15.75 in W 13 in D 1 in
Watercolor signed by the Reverend James Bourne (1773-1854)
Located in Kittery Point, ME
St Clair, Isles of Wight (as situated at back of drawing). James Bourne was a known landscape artist specialized in watercolors who exposed his works at the Royal Academy in the earl...
Paper
$2,400Sale Price|50% Off
H 30 in W 20 in D 2 in
Angelo Testa Abstract Marigold and Black Hard-Edge Color Field Painting, 1962
By Angelo Testa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A watercolor on board by Angelo Testa. Signed and dated (1962) Measures: 29½ H × 19½ W in. Angelo Testa was one of the foremost American textile designers of the mid-20th century. In 1945, he became the first graduate of the Institute of Design (formerly the New Bauhaus) in Chicago, where he studied under artist László Moholy-Nagy, architect George Fred Keck, and weaver Marli Ehrman...
Paint
Don Shoemaker Leather Rosewood Sofa
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in New York, NY
Don Shoemaker leather and rosewood sofa.
Leather, Wood, Cocobolo
Watercolor signed by the 4th Earl of Aylesford (1751-1812)
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Inside of Church situated as St John’s Chester, Chancel (lower right). At lower left, "Painted by Aylesfod". Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford, was a known watercolorist specializ...
Paper
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.25 in W 15.5 in D 1 in
French Art Deco Watercolor of an Exotic Woman with Flower, Signed Chasquest
By Chasquest
Located in Miami, FL
French Art Deco Watercolor of an Exotic Woman with Flower, Signed Chasquest, circa 1930 Vivid and alluring, this French Art Deco watercolor painting by Chasquest captures the confid...
Paper
$856
H 33.47 in W 25.6 in D 1.97 in
20th Century Oil on Canvas Italian Signed Landscape Painting, 1970
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian painting from 20th century. Oil painting on canvas, in the first canvas, depicting Impressionist style landscape of good pictorial quality. Frame in silvered metal and wood c...
Metal
$4,825
H 36 in W 22.5 in D 19 in L 36 in
Rare Restored Sling Chair in Rosewood, Don S. Shoemaker, Señal Furniture, 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing an incredibly rare mid-century modern leather "sloucher" sling chair designed by Don Shoemaker in solid cocobolo rosewood manufactured by Senal S.A., Mexico. This sculptu...
Rosewood
$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 Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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