Don Shoemaker Cylindrical Vessel
About the Item
- Creator:Senal (Manufacturer),Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 7 in (17.78 cm)Diameter: 3.25 in (8.26 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. Excellent vintage condition; professionally cleaned and polished.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1645226979812
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Los Angeles, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Don Shoemaker Petite Hinged Lid Box for SeñalBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CARectangular Cocobolo box by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. Shoemaker is known for his use of exotic Mexican hardwoods and this hinged lid box is a beautiful ex...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCocobolo
- Don Shoemaker Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAServing tray by Don Shoemaker for Senal of Mexico. The tray has a dark rosewood frame with integrated handles at either end, and the tray surface is inlaid with precious wood veneer ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Marquetry Paper TrayBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CACocobolo paper tray with geometric pattern by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. Shoemaker is known for the marquetry in his work, which is clearly visible in the ...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
MaterialsHardwood, Cocobolo, Rosewood
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid CocoboloBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAA 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 Bookends
MaterialsCocobolo
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Diamond Geometric Marquetry TrayBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAServing tray by Don Shoemaker for Senal of Mexico. The tray has a dark rosewood frame with integrated handles at either end, and the tray surfa...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAA rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating geometric marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwo...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Don Shoemaker Spice Rack for Señal SABy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo LeonIn theory, this piece was part of a set of kitchen spice racks, the lid is missing, it can be used as a storage for pens or a sweet bowl Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied p...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsHardwood
- 1970s Don Shoemaker for Señal Carved Root Wood Box MexicoBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chula Vista, CA1970s Free form lidded box designer Don Shoemaker Mexico Retains original label Señal Cocobolo root wood 6.5 h x 4 d x 10 w Original vintage unrestored condition. Expect signs of vin...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCocobolo, Wood
- Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Inlaid Decorative Briefcase for Señal, circa 1970By Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAExquisitely 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
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Trunks and Luggage
MaterialsJacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
- Don Shoemaker Parquetry Work Box for Senal SA, Mexico, LabelBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAGreat parquetry box, designed for Don Shoemaker, label, Senal SA.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Modern Boxes
MaterialsWood
- Abstract Box by Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, CDMXDesigned by Don Shoemaker and handcrafted by SEÑAL, S.A. Mexico, circa 1960s. Using exotic local wood in Mexico such as Granadillo, excellent vintage condition.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Jewelry Boxes
MaterialsCocobolo
- Don Shoemaker Desk Top Business Card HolderBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, CDMXWe offer this rare business card holder made in Cocobolo and granadillo wood, includes Original label of Señal S.A., circa 1970.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCocobolo
