Don S. Shoemaker Mexican MCM Large Hardwood Marquetry Backgammon Set
View Similar Items
Don S. Shoemaker Mexican MCM Large Hardwood Marquetry Backgammon Set
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 62 in (157.48 cm)Depth: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. The suitcase's exterior shows mild restorations.
- Seller Location:Mexico City, MX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3125315756232
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 cocobolo, a Mexican rosewood, and he decided to delve into furniture design. In the late 1950s, he 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 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 in 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.
- Mexican MCM Brass Brutalist Necklace in the Style of Pal KepenyesBy Pal KepenyesLocated in Mexico City, MXMexican Mid-Century Modern Brutalist necklace in the style of Pal Kepenyes. The geometric central piece with hanging organic pendant is held by a bone-shaped chain. No marks or signa...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsBrass
- Spanish MCM Instituto L. Torres Quevedo Educational GalvanometerLocated in Mexico City, MXA 1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern educational D'Arsonval galvanometer manufactured by the Leonardo Torres Quevedo Institute in Madrid. Model MA 54-04. The wood and glass structure s...Category
Vintage 1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
MaterialsMagnets
- Fred Davis Mexican Taxco Sterling Silver and Green Jasper ChokerBy Fred DavisLocated in Mexico City, MXA 1950's Sterling silver choker with prehispanic design by American designer Frederick "Fred" Davis. Manufactured in Taxco, Guerrero. The choker's links show a prehispanic Mayan glyp...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Mexican MCM Veracruz Woman Painting, Watercolor on PaperLocated in Mexico City, MXMagnificent Mexican MCM watercolor on paper depicting a Veracruz woman donning the traditional white cotton and lace "jarocho" dress posing by an Industria...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Paintings
MaterialsPaper
- Arturo Pani Mexican MCM Pair of Mahogany Side Tables with Silver Leaf TopBy Arturo PaniLocated in Mexico City, MXA pair of elegant Mexican Mid-Century Modern black lacquered mahogany side tables with silver leaf top, gilded edges by Arturo Pani. The rectangular tables have a distinctive Neoclas...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsSilver Leaf
- Frederick Davis Silver Bracelet with Pre-Hispanic Style LinksBy Fred DavisLocated in Mexico City, MXA 1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern silver bracelet by American designer Frederick "Fred" Davis. Manufactured in Mexico. The bracelet is composed by 7 panels that feature a glyph moti...Category
Vintage 1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsSilver
- 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
- 60's Don S Shoemaker for Senal Carved Rosewood Tic-tac-toe Game Mexico SculptureBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in San Diego, CAFantastic hand made Don S. Shoemaker designed tic-tac-toe game for Senal and dates from the 1960's. Made of beautiful rosewood. Has the original artists tag on the bottom. The game i...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsWood, Rosewood
- 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
MaterialsWood
$500 / set - 1970s Handmade YO-YO Toy Exotic Wood Style Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chula Vista, CA1970s Modern Handmade YO-YO Toy Exotic Wood in the style of Don Shoemaker 1.5 w x 3.5 diameter Preowned vintage condition unrestored. Refer to images listed.Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
MaterialsWood
- Headboard by Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, CDMXCirca 1970. We offer this headboard designed by Don Shoemaker. Made in cocobolo wood.Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Sets
MaterialsWood
- Mexican Modern Leather and cocobolo Magazine rack, Don S. Shoemaker, 1960'sBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Uccle, BELabel: Señal S.A.Hecho en Mexico. Cocobolo wood and black leather mid-century modern magazine rack from the sixties. The leather has a beautiful sensual feel and is in excellent con...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Magazine Racks and Stands
MaterialsLeather, Cocobolo