Midcentury Bowl by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker 1960s
View Similar Items
Midcentury Bowl by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 2.75 in (6.99 cm)Width: 14 in (35.56 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU936627665922
Don S. Shoemaker
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 the cocobolo, a Mexican rosewood, and he decided to delve into furniture design. In the late 1950s, he started a small factory, producing hand-carved 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 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 Don S. Shoemaker desks, seating, decorative objects and serveware.
- Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Rare Bowl Hand-CarvedBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful and very rare attributed to Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. No labels but according to the owner this piece was purchased with a lot of items by Don Shoemaker hand carved ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsWood, Walnut
- Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern BookendsBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CAHand carved bookends in Cocobolo by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico. This design was included in the 2017 Don S. Shoemaker ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsCocobolo
- Rare Cocobolo Don Shoemaker Fountain, Organic Mexican Mid-Century Modern, 1960sBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CAExceptional one of a kind organic midcentury Mexican modernist fountain designed by Don Shoemaker. Don Shoemaker fountain is made of Cocobolo woo...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Fountains
MaterialsCocobolo
- Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Wood TraysBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CASet of four serving trays or plates by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker, from his workshop in Señal Mexico. Designer Don Shoemaker ( was born in Nebraska and studied at the Art Inst...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsWood
- Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern Cutting Board or Server TrayBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CAUnused mixed wood cutting board or serving tray by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Retains original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern More Dining and Entertaining
MaterialsWood
- Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Inlaid Wall Mount Bar TrayBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Diego, CATray by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker, from his workshop in Señal Mexico. Beautiful geometric inlaid marquetry of mixed exotic woods. Can be mounted on the wall. Designer Don Sho...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Barware
MaterialsWood
- Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, MXAll original Don Shoemaker paper basket. Almost perfect condition. Wood and leather.Category
Vintage 1980s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Baskets
MaterialsLeather, Hardwood
$1,600 - Handmade Biomorphic Wood Bowl Catch it All Modern Don Shoemaker Mexico 1970sBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chula Vista, CAHandmade Biomorphic bowl crafted in wood manner of Don Shoemaker made in Mexico 1970s Unmarked. Organic Kidney shape design ideal as small serving dish or catch it all piece. Meas...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsWood
- 1960s Bronze Candle Holder Exotic Wood Don Shoemaker MexicoBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chula Vista, CAFascinating piece Don Shoemaker Votive Candleholder Mexico 1960s Bronze & Exotic Cocobolo Wood. Fine Mexican Modernism Original Preowned Vintage Unrestored...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern More Candle Holders
MaterialsBronze
- Midcentury Enamel Bowl, 1960sLocated in Tilburg, NLMidcentury Enamel Bowl 1960s. Beautiful and colorful enameled bowl made in the middle of the 20th century. Great colors and execution. The d...Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-...
MaterialsEnamel
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Large Decorative Tray with Chevron StripeBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAA rosewood serving tray with integrated handles by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a pixelated chevron-patterned parquet detail in exoti...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsWood, Rosewood, Cocobolo
- 1960s MCM Modernist Aluminum BowlBy NambeLocated in Chula Vista, CAMCM vintage sculptural aluminum bowl studio art signed 2.63 h x 12.13 long x 11.13 Unrestored preowned original vintage See all images for condition.Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsAluminum
