Don Shoemaker Leather Rosewood Sofa
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in New York, NY
Don Shoemaker leather and rosewood sofa.
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Wood, Cocobolo
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.
Don Shoemaker Leather Rosewood Sofa
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in New York, NY
Don Shoemaker leather and rosewood sofa.
Leather, Wood, Cocobolo
"Descanso" Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Don Shoemaker, 1970s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Coronado, CA
This large, chunky, heavy duty lounge chair and ottoman was designed by Don Shoemaker in the early 1970s as part of his "Descanso" line. It features a solid cocobolo frame and new co...
Leather, Cocobolo
$12,800
H 34 in W 75 in D 33.5 in
Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A. Cocobolo Rosewood Leather Sofa, Mid Century
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare rosewood and leather sofa, very comfortable and in great condition, Don Shoemaker (Rosewood up to 10kg can be shipped worldwide, no paperwork is necessary for this shipment) A s...
Leather, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Sling Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Denton, TX
The iconic beautiful mexican modern Don Shoemaker "sling" chair. Made for Señal S.A. Made from solid Cocobolo Wood with original black leather. Made in the 1960s
Leather, Cocobolo
Chair by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Carved chair with original leather insert by Don Shoemaker. Chair measures 19.5" wide, 20.5" deep and 27" high. Seat height is 12". Chair has been professionally refinished.
Wood, Leather
Don Shoemaker Sling Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Carmel, NY
The iconic beautiful Don Shoemaker sling chair. Made for Señal S.A. Made from solid Cocobolo Wood with original brown leather. Made in the 19...
Leather, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Perno Safari Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather safari lounge chair by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. The chair features a rosewood cocobolo frame and original patinated black leather hide. Leather showcases a s...
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Sling Swinger Chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Long Island City, NY
A leader of Mexico Modernism, Don Shoemaker created the “Sling” chair in the 1950s and designed variations through the 1960s, including the “Swinger” armchair you see here. Our versi...
Cocobolo, Granadillo, Leather
Don Shoemaker Rosewood Swinger Lounge Chair
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather lounge chair by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. The chair features a rosewood frame and original black leather hide. Nail details line the top of the seat back of t...
Leather, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Mahogany Swinger Lounge Chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather lounge chair by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. The chair features a mahogany frame and original black leather hide. Nail details line the top of the seat back of t...
Leather, Mahogany