Don Shoemaker "Sloucher" Sling Chairs for Señal Furniture
View Similar Items
Don Shoemaker "Sloucher" Sling Chairs for Señal Furniture
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27.5 in (69.85 cm)Width: 23.25 in (59.06 cm)Depth: 27 in (68.58 cm)Seat Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. frames in original condition with new caramel leather.
- Seller Location:Denton, TX
- Reference Number:Seller: KMD005120191stDibs: LU2538315502122
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.
- Vintage Leather Club Chairs with Steel Pod Legs for NeinkamperLocated in Denton, TXNice wear and patina on the leather of these Vintage modern lounge chairs with sturdy stainless steel pod legs.Category
Late 20th Century Canadian Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of 1950s Lounge ChairsBy Paul McCobbLocated in Denton, TXPaul McCobb style chairs very angular with sharp edges and sprawled maple legs and new firm upholstery.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
$3,600 Sale Price / set20% Off - Leather Lounge Chairs by WK MöbelBy WK MöbelLocated in Denton, TXBig Comfy leather lounge chairs by WK Möbel in a light cream / ivory color.Category
Vintage 1980s German Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Upholstery, Wood
$2,800 Sale Price / set43% Off - Gerard Van Den Berg Butterfly ChairsBy Gerard Van Den BergLocated in Denton, TXGerard Van Den Berg butterfly chairs with plum crazy leather that rest upon a black mesh and chrome-plated steel legs.Category
20th Century Dutch Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
$4,500 / set - Sculpted Forged Iron Sling Chairs, 1940'sLocated in Denton, TXSculpted hand wrought iron with new off-white canvas sling. Very rustic and elegant at the same time with some of the original pale green paint on the iron. These can be used either ...Category
20th Century French Lounge Chairs
MaterialsIron
$3,500 / set - David Hicks Wrought Iron & Leather Sling ChairLocated in Denton, TXDavid Hicks Wrought Iron & Leather Sling Chair. Scrolled wrought iron frame with brass sphere accents & black leather sling seat.Category
Mid-20th Century English Lounge Chairs
MaterialsIron
- Don Shoemaker "Sling Sloucher" ChairBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Oakland, CA1960s Don Shoemaker "Sling Sloucher" chair. Shoemaker was an American expat living in Mexico who was inspired to create modern versions of traditional Mexican furniture designs. A...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Cocobolo
- Don Shoemaker Sloucher Rosewood & Leather Sling Chairs for Señal, S.A., 1960sBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Cedar Falls, IAFor your consideration, a pair of 1960s Don Shoemaker Sloucher lounge chairs, in solid cocobolo rosewood and black leather. Iconic example of Organi...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
- Don Shoemaker Sling Sloucher Chairs Señal, Sculptural and Organic, MexicoBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Santa Gertrudis, BalearesDon S. Shoemaker (1919-1990) was a US (NE) born Mexican designer and painter, probably the most representative designer of Mexico Modernist furniture...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Don S. Shoemaker Sling Sloucher Lounge ChairBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo LeonFor your consideration, Shoemaker's most iconic chair, The Sloucher from the Sling line, the leather is original as are the buttons that are nailed to the wood (two out of twenty wer...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Cocobolo
On Hold$3,500 / item - Don Shoemaker for Senal Sling Swinger Chair With OttomanBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Hanover, MADon Shoemaker for Senal, Mexico, Cocobolo Rosewood Sling Swinger Chair & Ottoman. An original biomorphic Sling Swinger Chair and Ottoman in tropical Cocobolo rosewood and black lea...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCocobolo
- Don Shoemaker Sling "Swinger" Chair and Ottoman for Señal, S.A, 1960By Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Los Angeles, CAOne set of Swinger chair and ottoman from Don Shoemaker for the iconic Señal, S.A workshop of Mexico. This chair has been refinished and are in excellent condition. The chairs retain...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood, Cocobolo