Headboard by Don Shoemaker
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 24.02 in (61 cm)Width: 96.07 in (244 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Mexico City, MX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4252236117282
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: Mexico City, Mexico
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- 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
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- Mexican Modern Bookends by Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, CDMXCirca 1970. We offer this Hand carved bookends made in Cocobolo by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker. Include original labels from his workshop in Señal Mexico.Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bookends
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- Mexican Folding Stool by Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, CDMXAmazing, rare and interesting folding stool, it can be used as magazine rack, circa 1960 and designed by Don Shoemaker, includes original handmade label.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Stools
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- Rare Stool by Mexican Mid-Century Modernist Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, CDMXWe offer this rare an amazing stool designed by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960.Category
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- 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
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- Rare Corner Table by Mexican Mid-Century Modernist Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, CDMXWe offer this rare an amazing corner table designed by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960, this piece is very rare and hard to find, a perfect piece for the Don Shoemaker collectors, includes...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
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- Don Shoemaker Magazine RackBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, MXGreat design with noble materials as it is solid wood and leather. Very simple yet very elegant. Made in 1960s in Michoacan Mexico. Very good shape, all original.Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Magazine Racks and Stands
MaterialsLeather, Fruitwood
- 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
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- Don Shoemaker Bookends for SeñalBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo LeonBorn 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
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bookends
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- Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid CocoboloBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated 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
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- Don Shoemaker Sculpted Rosewood Bookends for Señal FurnitureBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CADon shoemaker sculpted rosewood bookends for Señal Furniture.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bookends
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- Don S. Shoemaker Sculpted Cocobolo Bookends for Señal FurnitureBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Los Angeles, CADon S. Shoemaker sculpted cocobolo bookends for Señal Furniture.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsRosewood, Cocobolo
