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.
Don Shoemaker Sculpted Rosewood & Leather Coffee Table for Señal Furniture
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Cocobolo Rosewood, New Italian Leather ___________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take ...
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don S. Shoemaker Cocobolo Parquet Coffee Table for Señal S.A., Mexico 1960s
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Debrecen, HU
An exceptional large-scale cocobolo parquet coffee table designed by Don S. Shoemaker for Señal S.A., Mexico, circa 1960s. The long, low rectangular top is composed of numerous small...
Cocobolo
Rosewood coffee table - coffee table, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Chorzów, PL
Coffee table made in Denmark in the 1960s. Furniture made of rosewood with beautiful grain. Minimalist design will work perfectly in contemporary interiors. Very good condition. Af...
Rosewood
1960s Eero Saarinen Oval Walnut Coffee Table for Knoll
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
Early production 1960s Saarinen coffee table manufactured by Knoll. Beautiful walnut top with satin lacquered base in antique white.
Aluminum
Horst Brüning Coffee Table for Kill International, 1960s
By Horst Bruning, Kill International
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful, minimalist low, soft-edged matte chrome steel and glass coffee table by Horst Brüning for Kill International, Germany, 1960s, good condition with small (visual only) damag...
Steel
Industrial Coffee Table, 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
- Vintage Industrial coffee table manufactured in the 1960s - Made of solid wood and iron - Weight of the table is 17 kg.
Iron
$20,212Sale Price|25% Off
H 30.25 in W 53.5 in D 96 in
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
Coffee Table / Bench by Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Company
By Johnson Furniture Company, Paul Frankl
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful coffee table model #5004 designed by Paul T. Frankl, 1948 for Johnson Furniture Company. Constructed from mahogany and cork, this Asian inspired coffee table can also funct...
Mahogany, Cork
$7,500
H 15.25 in W 48 in D 17.5 in
Gio Ponti for M. Singer & Sons Sculpted Walnut & Travertine Coffee Table
By Gio Ponti
Located in Gladstone, NJ
Gio Ponti for M. Singer & Sons Sculpted Walnut & Travertine Coffee Table
Travertine
$563
H 19.69 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Coffee Table Made In Rosewood By Severin Hansen For Haslev Furniture From 1960s
By Severin Hansen, Haslev Mobelsnedkeri
Located in Lejre, DK
Coffee table in rosewood designed by Severin Hansen for Haslev Furniture in the 1960s. The table is in great vintage condition.
Rosewood
Cesare Lacca Sculpted Brass Coffee Table
By Cesare Lacca
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant Cesare Lacca brass coffee table. Sculpted, solid brass base with cutouts, original green tinted glass. Classic Italian 1950s style that fits in any decor and setting. This...
Brass
$8,800
H 14.25 in W 72 in D 18.25 in
Paul Frankl Brazilian Rosewood Coffee Table Model 5003 for Johnson Furniture 50s
By Johnson Furniture Co., Paul Frankl
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional Paul Frankl model #5003 coffee table produced by the Johnson Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, circa 1950s. This striking example is executed in richly figured...
Wood
$1,995
H 18 in W 32 in D 32 in
Imperial Furniture Mid-Century Modern Sculpted Walnut Two-Tier Coffee Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A sleek and stylish Mid-Century Modern sculpted walnut coffee or cocktail table By Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids USA, Circa 1960s Measures: 32"W x 32"D x 18"H. Very good ori...
Walnut
Sculpted Steel Patinated Coffee Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Large sculpted steel metal and glass coffee table constructed of six saber form legs joined by 2" thick flat bar box stretchers. The table is topped with recta...
Metal
$677
H 19.69 in W 29.14 in D 29.14 in
Coffee Table Made In Rosewood By Severin Hansen for Haslev Furniture From 1960s
By Haslev Mobelsnedkeri, Severin Hansen
Located in Lejre, DK
This coffee table, crafted from luxurious rosewood, embodies the elegant simplicity of Danish design from the 1960s. Designed by the renowned Severin Hansen for Haslev Furniture Fact...
Rosewood
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
Fantasy Furniture Alligator Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
Unique coffee table in the form of an alligator, or crocodile, having a solid wood body ( oak ), and solid wood ( mahogany ) legs and feet, with a leather tongue. Creative and possib...
Mahogany, Oak
Don Shoemaker Granadillo Wood and Leather Coffee Table
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Don Shoemaker granadillo wood and leather coffee table Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at The Fine Arts Institution of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he moved to M...
Leather, Granadillo