Don Shoemaker for Señal Folding Stool with Leather Seat
View Similar Items
Don Shoemaker for Señal Folding Stool with Leather Seat
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Designer),Senal (Manufacturer)
- Similar to:Michael van Beuren (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 13.5 in (34.29 cm)Width: 22 in (55.88 cm)Depth: 17.25 in (43.82 cm)Seat Height: 13.5 in (34.29 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1645223833692
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.
- Don Shoemaker Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAServing tray by Don Shoemaker for Senal of Mexico. The tray has a dark rosewood frame with integrated handles at either end, and the tray surface is inlaid with precious wood veneer ...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Marquetry Paper TrayBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CACocobolo paper tray with geometric pattern by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. Shoemaker is known for the marquetry in his work, which is clearly visible in the ...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
MaterialsHardwood, Cocobolo, Rosewood
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Geometric Marquetry Tray with StandBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAServing tray and stand by Don Shoemaker for Senal of Mexico. The tray has a dark rosewood frame with integrated handles at either end, and the tray surface is inlaid with precious wo...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid CocoboloBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Los Angeles, CAA pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsCocobolo
- Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid CocoboloBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAA pair of solid wood bookends by Mexican-American designer Don Shoemaker for his company, Señal. Rendered in highly figured cocobolo wood, a species of local tropical wood similar to...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsCocobolo
- Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Senal, Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CAA rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating geometric marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwo...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Expertly Restored - Don Shoemaker Folding Leather & Rosewood StoolBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Los Angeles, CADon Shoemaker Folding Leather & Rosewood Stool for Señal Furniture ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing hi...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- 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
- Rare Mexican Small Folding Stool Attributed to Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Mexico City, CDMXAmazing, rare and interesting folding stool, it can be used as magazine rack, circa 1960.Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsPine
- Pair of Don Shoemaker for Senal Sling ChairsBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Palm Springs, CAA quite lovely pair of Don Shoemaker sling chairs for his firm Senal from the 1960's. This pair is made of a Mexican Rosewood, Cocobolo I believe. The pair has beautiful graining and...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
$6,000 / set - Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A. Cocobolo Rosewood Leather Sofa, Mid CenturyBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated in Vienna, ATRare 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...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Don Shoemaker Sloucher Rosewood & Leather Sling Chairs for Señal, S.A., 1960sBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated 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
