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Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

American, 1919-1990

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 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.

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Creator: Don S. Shoemaker
Don Shoemaker Decorative Tray for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Serving 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

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating geometric linear marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A 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 Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A 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 Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Don Shoemaker Wood Inlaid Chevron Pattern Cutting Board for Señal
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cutting board by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the board has a repeating chevron marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwoods that ca...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood, Cocobolo

Don Shoemaker for Señal Diamond Geometric Marquetry Tray
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Serving 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

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Don Shoemaker for Señal Geometric Marquetry Tray with Stand
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Serving 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

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Don Shoemaker for Señal Large Decorative Tray with Chevron Stripe
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rosewood serving tray with integrated handles by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a pixelated chevron-patterned parquet detail in exoti...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Wood, Rosewood, Cocobolo

Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
Eye-catching 1960s geometric design of tropical hardwoods designed by Don S. Shoemaker and made in Mexico by his company Senal, S.A. Practical and beautiful, this mid-century modern ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Hardwood

Don Shoemaker Large Serving Tray /Cutting Board Made with Different Woods
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
This is a Mexican wood tray, cutting board or serving platter made in 1960s in Michoacan, Mexico by Don Shoemaker. It is in excelllent condition and...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Hardwood

1970s Don Shoemaker Service Tray Exotic Wood Stripe for Señal Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Service tray By Designer Don Shoemaker produced by Senal in Mexico, 1970s Marvelous midcentury service tray Medley of exotic woods Cut out Handle design for easy carry Measures: ...
Category

1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood, Cocobolo

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Previously Available Items
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Tray for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cocobolo tray by Don Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico, c.1960s. The tray has a Cocobolo frame with integrated handles and features an inlaid striped pattern of rosewood. Retains original ...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

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Rosewood, Cocobolo

Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Tray for Señal
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Tray for Señal
H 1.25 in W 15.25 in D 9 in
Don Shoemaker for Señal Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray
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Don Shoemaker for Señal Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

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Don Shoemaker Mixed Exotic Woods XL Tray
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Don Shoemaker Mixed Exotic Woods XL Tray
Don Shoemaker Mixed Exotic Woods XL Tray
H 1.75 in W 21.25 in D 12.375 in
Don Shoemaker for Señal Narrow Decorative Tray
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A narrow serving 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 woo...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Don Shoemaker Tapered Stripe Exotic Wood Service Tray Senal, Mexico, 1970s
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
By Designer Don Shoemaker produced by Senal in Mexico, 1970s Marvelous Midcentury Service Tray in a Medley of Exotic Woods Cut out Handle design for easy service carry Measures: 2...
Category

1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood, Cocobolo

Don Shoemaker 1960s Cutting Board/ Tray Made by Differnent Hardwood Spieces
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
This is a Mexican wood tray, cutting board or serving platter made in 1960s in Michoacan, Mexico by Don Shoemaker. It is in excellent condition and ...
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1960s North American Organic Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Hardwood

Don Shoemaker Serving Tray Made with Different Woods
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, MX
Amazing serving tray made in the 70 by iconic wood craftsman Don Shoemaker in Michoacan, Mexico. Made out of different spieces of woods all of them endemic ...
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1970s Mexican Organic Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

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Hardwood

Cocobolo Rosewood Tray Table by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c. 1970
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted rectangular shape tray table designed by Don Shoemaker for Sen~al, crafted in circa 1970s Mexico. The tray has cocobolo rosewood inlays formed in a intriguing pat...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

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Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo

Inlaid Tray with Chevron Pattern by Don Shoemaker for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating chevron marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwood...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Mahogany, Cocobolo

Don Shoemaker Mixed Exotic Wood Tray Vessel, 1970
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful example of Don S Shoemaker's incredible design and woodwork for SeÑal. This tray has a great shape, profile, and mix of inlaid woods including cocobolo, rosewood, jacar...
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20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Cocobolo, Jacaranda, Rosewood

Don Shoemaker for Señal Inlaid Tray with Handles
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosewood tray by Don Shoemaker for Señal, designed and produced in Mexico. This examples have slightly bowed edges framed by four curved pieces of solid rosewood. There is a cut-out ...
Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Don S. Shoemaker Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Don S. Shoemaker platters and serveware for sale on 1stDibs.

Don S. Shoemaker platters and serveware are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Don S. Shoemaker platters and serveware, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original platters and serveware by Don S. Shoemaker were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. Prices for Don S. Shoemaker platters and serveware can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $650 and can go as high as $1,800, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,200.

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