Don Shoemaker 'Swinger' Sling Chair and Ottoman, ca. 1965
View Similar Items
Don Shoemaker 'Swinger' Sling Chair and Ottoman, ca. 1965
About the Item
- Creator:Senal (Workshop/Studio),Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Width: 31 in (78.74 cm)Depth: 28 in (71.12 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1965
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Chair is original in very good condition, leather shows some wear, however is in good condition as shown. Ottoman is also in very good condition, however is missing one tassel, which can easily be recreated if needed.
- Seller Location:Costa Mesa, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1384223287852
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.
- Vintage Italian Rattan and Iron Scoop Chairs and Table, ca. 1950By Roberto MangoLocated in Costa Mesa, CAVintage Italian Rattan and iron scoop chairs and table, ca. 1950. Beautiful and unique teardrop chair design with original frames, feet and rattan in go...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWrought Iron
$3,100 Sale Price / set43% Off - Charles Eames for Herman Miller 670/671 Lounge Chair and Ottoman, 2021By Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Costa Mesa, CACharles Eames for Herman Miller 670/671 Lounge Chair and Ottoman, 2021. Beautiful near new Charles Eames Lounge chair with ottoman in desirable 2100 series smooth black leather. Ch...Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Hans J. Wegner Lounge Chair, Model CH-22, ca. 1950By Hans J. WegnerLocated in Costa Mesa, CAHans J. Wegner Lounge Chair, Model CH-22, ca. 1950. Very early original Hans J. Wegner CH-22 lounge chair. Frame is original and paperboard seating has been rewoven to exacting ori...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsPapercord, Oak, Teak
$3,200 Sale Price20% Off - Illum Wikkelso for Soren Willadsen Model 110 Wingback Lounge Chair, ca. 1955By Illum Wikkelsø, Soren Willadsen MobelfabrikLocated in Costa Mesa, CAIllum Wikkelso for Soren Willadsen Model 110 Wingback Lounge Chair, ca. 1955. Exceptional vintage ALL ORGINAL condition, this piece is museum worthy and in wonderful vintage conditi...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Teak
- Eero Saarinen for Knoll Boucle Womb Chair, 2019By Knoll, Eero SaarinenLocated in Costa Mesa, CAEero Saarinen for Knoll Boucle Womb Chair, 2019. Covered in custom Flax Boucle from Knoll. The expressive sculptural forms of the Eero Saarinen Wom...Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Mid-Century Modern Lounge C...
MaterialsBouclé
- High Back Steel Frame Siesta Chair in Grey Leather, circa 1970By Ingmar Relling, Westnofa FurnitureLocated in Costa Mesa, CASteel Frame Siesta Chair in Grey Leather, circa 1970. Beautiful steel framed high back grey leather lounge chair with matching ottoman. Beaut...Category
Vintage 1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
$1,200 Sale Price / set51% Off
- 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
- Don Shoemaker Sling "Swinger" Chair and Ottoman, Mexico 1960sBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Camden, MEA Classic 20th century chair and ottoman from one of the great craftsman's workshops of Mexico: Senal, S.A., Don Shoemaker's tropical paradise in Michoacan, Mexico. This iconic chai...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Cocobolo
- 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
- Mid-Century Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Senal SA Sling Swinger Chairs Set of 4By Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Forney, TXA magnificent set of four rare original Mid-Century Modern Mexican bocote wood and black leather "Swingers" by legendary designer Don S. Shoemaker (1919-1990) This iconic Modernist ...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Mexican Modern, Don S Shoemaker, Sling Swinger chair with footstool, 1960'sBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Uccle, BEIconic Don S. Shoemaker Sling Swinger chair with footrest. Made from cocobolo (Mexican rosewood) and black leather in the 1960s. The biomorphic lines of the exotic rosewood create an...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, 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
