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 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...
$2,400Sale 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
$1,250
H 24.75 in W 32.75 in D 1.5 in
Léon Danchin Signed Color Etching “Pheasant in Flight", circa 1930, Framed
By Leon Danchin
Located in Morristown, NJ
“Pheasant in Flight,” a color etching by noted French sporting artist Léon Danchin (1887–1938), dating to the first half of the 20th century, circa 1930. Danchin depicts a brilliantly colored ring-necked pheasant in flight above a delicately rendered stand of bare branches. The bird’s richly articulated plumage contrasts beautifully with the restrained pale-blue sky and finely drawn landscape, lending the composition both movement and atmospheric depth. Pencil signed “Léon Danchin” in the lower right margin. The upper margin bears the printed copyright inscription, “Copyright by Léon Danchin, 6 rue Edmond About, Paris XVIe.” Presented under glass with a double mat in a giltwood frame. Provenance: The Estate of Camilla Dietz Bergeron...
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
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
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
$359Sale Price|19% Off
H 25.99 in W 33.86 in D 0.4 in
Original Vintage Abstract Color Lithograph, Composition by Jörgen Fogelqvist
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
Jörgen Fogelqvist, Composition Color lithography Number 255/260 This work is signed by the artist and has an individual number (pencil) Working dimensions 66/86 The work is framed J...
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
$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
$1,024
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
$329Sale 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
$3,869Sale Price|41% Off
H 41.34 in W 49.61 in D 1.58 in
Large Venice View, Signed by François Stroobant '1819-1916'
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This large and very nice Venice view is a charcoal. This is the amazing the way Venezia is reflected into the water. This is a work signed by François Stro...
Canvas, Wood
$910
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
Framed Drawing of Dancer, Signed H. Sjardi, Vintage Italian Art, 1950
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
$267Sale Price|20% Off
H 39.38 in W 29.53 in D 0.4 in
Original Vintage Abstract Color Serigraphy, Intermezzo by Peter Foeller
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
Peter Foeller, Intermezzo, 1990. Color serigraphy. Number 91/130. This work is signed by the artist. It has a title, date and individual number. Sheet dimensions 100/75 Work dimensio...
Paper
$267Sale Price|20% Off
H 39.38 in W 29.53 in D 0.4 in
Original Vintage Abstract Color Serigraphy, Feuerschiff by Peter Foeller
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
Peter Foeller, Feuerschiff, 1990. Color serigraphy. Number E/A. This work is signed by the artist. It has a title, date and individual number. Sheet dimensions 100/75 Work dimensions...
Paper
$3,642 / 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