Desk Chair on Castor Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern
View Similar Items
Desk Chair on Castor Don Shoemaker Mexican Modern
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 28 in (71.12 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 fading. leather has wear as shown. frame light wear and patina.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU945012085651
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.
- Rare Solid Mexican Cocobolo Wood Desk Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GAA bespoken and rare desk by celebrated Mexican designer and woodworker Don Shoemaker, model no F46. Designed in 1970s and executed in 1981, the desk is constructed with patchwork of ...Category
Vintage 1980s Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsCocobolo
- Cityscape Leather Desk Chair with Castors by Paul Evans for DirectionalBy Paul EvansLocated in Atlanta, GAA wonderful cityscape chair in chrome and brass patchwork made by Paul Evans studio for Directional, circa 1974. The chair is supported by exposed leg...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsBrass, Chrome
- Rosewood Lounge Chair and Ottoman Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GACrafted in beautiful rosewood, the lounge chair and ottoman was an iconic design by Don Shoemaker for Senal. The chair with a rocking seat and the folding ottoman...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
$4,600 / set - Two Rosewood Nesting Tables, Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GAA set of two nesting tables made by Don Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico, circa 1960s. Heavy cubist construction with minimalist form and exposed dove joins and point joints. The surface...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
MaterialsCocobolo
$4,800 / set - Rosewood and leather lounge Chair and Ottoman Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GACrafted in beautiful rosewood, the lounge chair and ottoman was an iconic design by Don Shoemaker for Senal. The chair with a rocking seat and the folding ottoman...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
$4,320 Sale Price / set33% Off - Rosewood and Marble Table, Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GAA square dining or game table by Don Shoemaker for Senal, Mexico, circa 1970. Solid Mexican rosewood Cocobolo frame with carved organic forms and join...Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMarble
$7,200 Sale Price21% Off
- Don Shoemaker Folding Lounge Chairs, Mexico c.1960By Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in San Francisco, CAABOUT Price is per chair. Four available. Original folding lounge chairs designed by Don Shoemaker for Senal SA. The chairs are made out of Cocobolo Rosewood and upholstered in the original black leather with decorative leather pins on the top and sides. The seats can adjust to four different positions and it can be folded flat to store away. Armrests fold up. Two chairs retain the original labels. CREATOR Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A., Mexico. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1960. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Leather, Cocobolo Rosewood. CONDITION Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor wear on the leather seats. One chair is missing two leather pins on the side and one chair is missing one on the side. Some fading of finish on all. DIMENSIONS H 36.5 in. W 23.5 in. D 23 in. HISTORY The chair was produced by Don Shoemaker furniture factory in Santa Maria Guido, Morelia Michoacan in the 1960's, the plant closed in the early 2000's after George Shoemaker...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsRosewood, Teak
$3,750 Sale Price / item24% Off - 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
- 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
MaterialsPine
- 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 Rosewood and Leather ‘Sloucher’ Chairs, Mexico 1950sBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Rotterdam, NLPair of lounge chairs model 'Sloucher' by Don Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico 1960s. Outstanding organically shaped bone structure with a nice leather sling seat. Interesting shapes and ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Cocobolo
- Vintage Don Shoemaker Rosewood Swinger Chair Signed Senal, MexicoBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Chicago, ILA great vintage example. Not a reproduction. Beautiful grain. Signed on cross stretcher. Are pictures available upon request.Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood