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...
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
1829 Signed Watercolor Portrait with Scandalous Inscription on Reverse
By Mr. King
Located in Katonah, NY
This early 19th-century watercolor portrait is signed “Painted by Mr. King” and dated 1829. It shows the sitter, Hanah Tichbon, dressed as a proper young woman of the period, wearin...
Wood, Paper
$148,000
H 37 in W 24 in D 3 in
Exceptional French Oil on Canvas, "Feeding the Doves", Signed by E. Munier
By Emile Munier
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional French oil on canvas, "Feeding the Doves", Signed and Dated by E. Munier, 1890. Émile Munier is one of the most sought after and most talented French artists of the 18...
Canvas, Giltwood
$3,733 / set
H 24.41 in W 18.51 in D 0.4 in
18th Century Italian Engraver Outline Etching Etruscian, Italy
Located in Epfach, DE
2.nd Half of the 18th cenutury, hand-colored The pictures are showing dance scenes based on Etrukian vase painting.
Wood
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
$337Sale Price|20% Off
H 25.99 in W 19.69 in D 0.4 in
Original Vintage Abstract Color Serigraphy on a Woven Paste by Yannick Ballif
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
Yannick Ballif, Abstraction, 1976. Color serigraphy on a woven paste. Number 52/70. This work is signed by the artist. It has individual number (pencil). Working dimensions 66/50. Un...
Paper
$2,950
H 28.5 in W 19 in D 1 in
Painting, Drawing of Dancer, Framed, Signed H. Sjardi, Italy, C 1950, Vintage
Located in New York, NY
Painting, drawing of dancers from the mid-century time, circa 1950. It is signed H. Sjardi. The drawing has an original green bamboo frame. The pain...
Paper
$1,050
H 28.35 in W 24.02 in D 1.97 in
20th Century Oil on Canvas Italian Landscape Signed Painting, 1977
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian painting dated 1977. Oil painting on canvas depicting a country view in the Impressionist style. Beautiful and pleasant framework signed and dated in the lower right corner (...
Canvas
$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
$368Sale Price|19% Off
H 14.18 in W 17.33 in D 0.79 in
Original Vintage Abstract Color Lithograph, Maskot by Lis Zwick, 1996
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
Lis Zwick, Maskot, 1996 Color lithography The number 152/400 Work signed by the artist, title and individual number (in pencil) Working dimensions 36/44 This work is framed Lis Zwick was born in 1942 in Copenhagen, died in 2020. She was a Danish-Swedish artist. In 1959, she worked as an illustrator at the Harlang & Toksvig advertising agency, and then studied at the School of Graphic Arts in Copenhagen. From 1962 to 1963, she spent six months in the Drakabygget art collective in Örkelljunga, where she was tutored by artists Hardy Strid...
Paper
$933
H 34.26 in W 27.17 in D 2.37 in
20th Century Oil on Cardboard Italian Signed Seascape Painting, 1970
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian painting of the second half of the 20th century. Oil painting on cardboard depicting a port view with boats of good pictorial quality. Golden and lacquered wooden frame with ...
Wood
"Back Yards" Watercolor on Paper, Signed Lower Right "A P Martino"
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antonio Pietro Martino, (1902-1988) "Back Yards" watercolor on paper, signed lower right "A P Martino" Size with frame: Height 19 in. (48.26 cm.) Widt...
Paper