Senal More Furniture and Collectibles
Mexican
If it weren’t for his honeymoon, American furniture designer Don S. Shoemaker and his company, Señal S.A., 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, Shoemaker 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 modest factory became Señal S.A., 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 from 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 Señal S.A. tables, lounge chairs and other furniture.
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Creator: Senal
Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Inlaid Decorative Briefcase for Señal, circa 1970
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted slim decorative briefcase designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, shoemaker founded Señal w...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Bookends for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at The Fine Arts Institution of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his family and settled in Santa Maria de Guido...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Hardwood
60's Don S Shoemaker for Senal Carved Rosewood Tic-tac-toe Game Mexico Sculpture
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Diego, CA
Fantastic hand made Don S. Shoemaker designed tic-tac-toe game for Senal and dates from the 1960's. Made of beautiful rosewood. Has the original artists tag on the bottom. The game i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Senal More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wood, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Cocobolo
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Senal more furniture and collectibles for sale on 1stDibs.
Senal more furniture and collectibles are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Senal more furniture and collectibles, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original more furniture and collectibles by Senal were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider more furniture and collectibles by Frank Kyle, Don S. Shoemaker, and Taxco. Prices for Senal more furniture and collectibles can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $595 and can go as high as $1,750, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,200.