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.
$20,212Sale Price|25% Off
Cocobolo Dining Table by Don S. Shoemaker, 1960s Modern Design
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
$1,772Sale Price|22% Off
H 29.14 in Dm 47.25 in
Dining Table Made In Rosewood By Vejle Furniture From 1960s
By Vejle Stole & Møbelfabrik
Located in Lejre, DK
This dining table epitomizes the elegance and craftsmanship synonymous with Danish design from the 1960s. Crafted from luxurious rosewood, renowned for its rich hues and distinctive...
Rosewood
$2,520Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.75 in W 59.06 in D 41.15 in
Dining Table Made In Rosewood By Arne Vodder From 1960s
By Arne Vodder
Located in Lejre, DK
This oval dining table, designed by the acclaimed Arne Vodder, epitomizes the elegance and sophistication of mid-century Danish design. Crafted from rosewood and dating back to aroun...
Rosewood
Artedi Post Modern Marble Glass Dining Table
By Artedi
Located in Sheffield, MA
Made in Italy, this 20th century glass, marble and brass accented dining table by noted Italian furniture maker, Artedi, makes a statement in ...
Marble, Brass
Iconoclast Modern Hardwood Dining Table by Izm
Located in Edmonton, Alberta
The Iconoclast dining table is made of 100% solid, hardwood and features a unique pedestal base. This piece commands attention and is the perfect center piece for any open plan dinin...
Hardwood
$18,995 / item
H 30 in W 132 in D 48 in
FLOAT DINING TABLE - Modern Bleached White Oak Dining Table w/ Silver Leaf Bases
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
FLOAT DINING TABLE - Modern Bleached White Oak Dining Table w/ Silver Leaf Bases The Float Dining Table is a stunning and modern piece of furniture...
Silver Leaf
Expanding Walnut Dining Table of Midcentury Design
By Petersen Antiques
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large walnut dining table with extension leaf (100" x 60", expanding to 128" x 60). with beautifully matched, solid walnut planks. Because each table is bench-made in our own Los A...
Walnut
$21,370 / item
H 30 in W 120 in D 42 in
STACKED DINING TABLE - Modern Wooden Dining Table with Metal Inlay and Bases
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
STACKED DINING TABLE - Modern Wooden Dining Table with Metal Inlay and Bases The Stacked Dining Table is a modern piece of furniture that draws i...
Metal
Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Table by Kaare Klint, 1954
By Rud Rasmussen, Kaare Klint
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century modern Danish dining room table made of hand crafted polished Cuban Mahogany designed by Kaare Klint for Rud. Rasmussen, in good condition. The large rectangula...
Mahogany
$2,800
H 26 in W 48 in D 48 in
1960s Charles Eames Herman Miller Round Black Conference or Dining Table
Located in Monrovia, CA
1960s Charles Eames aluminum group conference or dining table with segmented solid aluminum four star base. this sleek and elegant design by Charles and Ray Eames complements any ho...
Aluminum, Steel
$4,800Sale Price|26% Off
H 29.25 in W 62.25 in D 39 in
Exotic Mixed Woods Dining Table by Milo Baughman for Directional, 1960s
By Milo Baughman, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This beautifully refinished exotic wood inlay 1960's California Modern dining table by Milo Baughman for Directional features highly grained exotic woods creating contrasting lines s...
Wood
Iconoclast Modern Hardwood Dining Table by Izm Design
By Izm Design
Located in Edmonton, Alberta
The Iconoclast dining table is made of 100% solid, hardwood and features a unique pedestal base. This piece commands attention and is the perfect centre piece for any open plan dinin...
Hardwood
Large Post Modern Oval Dining Table after Evans
By Milo Baughman, Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular oval dining table on Cityscape like architectural brass base, with inset oval glass top, on solid oak racetrack molding. Impressive scale, top quality design and construc...
Brass
Don Shoemaker Dining Table for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
From designer Don Shoemaker for his company Señal, c.1960s, Mexico, this Rosewood table makes an intriguing statement from any angle. The tabletop is supported by two sculpted foldin...
Rosewood
Sold
H 30.25 in W 39.25 in D 39.25 in
1960s Don Shoemaker Sling Collection Round Dining Table Exotic Cocobolo Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Round Dining TABLE exquisite exotic cocobolo wood marquetry designed by Don S Shoemaker Mexico 1960s Shoemaker's Sling collection Mesa Redonda F12 prod...
Rosewood, Cocobolo
Sold
H 30 in W 74 in D 38 in
Rare Exotic Cocobolo Rosewood Dining Table by Don Shoemaker for Senal, Signed
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This extremely rare and highly coveted sculptural dining table in exotic Cocobolo Rosewood was designed by leading 1960s modernist designer Don Shoemaker and is signed with a partial Senal S.A. label on the underside. We fully restored this gorgeous piece in a French Polish which is the most expensive and labor intensive finish available due to the numerous hand applied layers, but it is worth every penny as it provides a smooth and hard surface which accentuates the exotic wood grain while providing a protective surface for every day use. Crafted of exotic woods, the top features a stunning patchwork array of Cocobolo Rosewood parquetry inlay which connects to solid Zebrawood articulating legs that connect via wooden pegs. With the pegs removed, the biomorphic sculpted legs can fold and pack near-flat making transport of this table easy and works great for transformable spaces - if you are having a party and need to make space for a dance floor- simply stow away this table and now you have space to get the party started. This extremely rare and highly sought after work of art is ideal for avid collectors and investors of modern art and interior designers who have a client looking for the best of the best. This table is the pièce de résistance for Don Shoemaker collectors and this particular example is exquisite as it is signed with a partial original label and is in stunning condition. Mexican Modern is a style that fits incredibly well with Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern, Danish Modern, Brazilian Modern, Art Deco, Classical 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. Also consider this Don Shoemaker for Senal SA...
Rosewood
Sling Collection “Mesa Redonda” by Don Shoemaker for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An F-12 dining table from Don Shoemaker’s Sling Collection, this round table makes an intriguing statement from any angle. The tabletop is supported by a deeply recessed cluster of f...
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Rosewood Table
By Senal
Located in San Francisco, CA
Don Shoemaker designed rosewood dining or games table. Made completely from solid rosewood in a sculptural organic manor. Lightly refinished and in excellent vintage condition. P...