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1960s Don Shoemaker Hand-Carved Cocobolo Wood Bookends a Pair
$1,600per set
£1,209.40per set
€1,389.82per set
CA$2,227.99per set
A$2,478.55per set
CHF 1,299.29per set
MX$30,287.25per set
NOK 16,544.78per set
SEK 15,574.62per set
DKK 10,374.46per set
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About the Item
1960s Don Shoemaker Hand-Carved Cocobolo Wood Bookends – Pair Mid Century Modern Mexican Design, Señal S.A.
Rare and exquisite pair of hand-carved cocobolo wood bookends by renowned Mexican-American artist designer Don Shoemaker, created in the 1960s for his esteemed workshop, Señal S.A.
These sculptural bookends are a striking example of mid-century modern Mexican design, reflecting Shoemaker's deep appreciation for organic form and material integrity.
Crafted from richly figured cocobolo wood—a luxurious tropical hardwood native to Mexico, closely related to Brazilian rosewood—each piece showcases a dramatic live edge, exposing the heartwood and natural grain variations that make cocobolo so prized. The wood’s dynamic patterns, tonal depth, and tactile beauty are emphasized through Shoemaker’s signature hand-carving technique, blending craftsmanship and nature-inspired modernism.
These substantial bookends are both functional and sculptural, embodying the ethos of 1960s modernist design in Mexico.
Retains its original manufacturer’s label on the underside, reading “Made in Mexico Señal S.A.” and is in good restored vintage condition, having been cleaned and polished.
Key Features:
* Designer: Don S. Shoemaker
* Manufacturer: Señal S.A., Mexico
* Date: 1960s
* Material: Solid Cocobolo wood
* Design Features: Hand-carved, live edge, natural grain, sculptural form
* Provenance: Includes original labels from Shoemaker’s workshop
* Exhibition History: Design featured in the 2017 Don S. Shoemaker exhibition at the Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City
* Dimensions (each): 8" H x 6.5" W x 4" D
These museum-quality bookends are a collector’s dream—ideal for admirers of Mexican modernist furniture, organic modern design, or rare pieces by Don Shoemaker. They bring both history and artistry to any library, office, or curated interior.
SEO Keywords: Don Shoemaker bookends, cocobolo wood, Mexican modernist design, Señal Mexico, 1960s mid-century decor, modernist wood sculpture, collectible designer bookends, organic modern, rosewood style bookends, vintage Don Shoemaker furniture, Latin American design.
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Sculptor)
- Dimensions:Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Organic Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. good restored.
- Seller Location:North Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: WB7251stDibs: LU906845906752
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.
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