Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Tray
About the Item
- Creator:Don S. Shoemaker (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 6 in (15.24 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Kalamazoo, MI
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5573227576072
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Kalamazoo, MI
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Architectural Wood Model of Denver, CO.Located in Kalamazoo, MIBeautiful architect’s model of downtown Denver, CO. in solid wood. Featuring a CNC base of streets and open spaces, individual buildings are modeled to scale in a variety of woods. M...Category
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsWood
- Hugh Acton Wood Sculpture from His Own BarnBy Hugh ActonLocated in Kalamazoo, MIA unique hanging sculpture consisting of 4 interlocking squares set at random angles held in place with dowels. This piece was bought from mi...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mounted Objects
MaterialsWood
- Early Ralph Rapson Rocker with Leather WebbingBy Ralph Rapson, KnollLocated in Kalamazoo, MIThis is a rare first year production from HG Knoll Associates of a stunning rocking chair designed by Ralph Rapson. It boasts a solid birch frame with original woven leather webbing...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
MaterialsBirch, Leather
- Am Moller 501 Dining Chairs, 'Set of 6'By AM MoblerLocated in Kalamazoo, MIThis is a fantastic example of carefully and expertly crafted Danish mid-century modern seating. This set of six newly rewoven and restored dining chairs made by AM Mobler in the 196...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsRosewood, Teak, Bentwood
- Extra Large Vintage Oak Mid-Century Modern Slat BenchLocated in Kalamazoo, MIThis is the biggest slat bench we have ever had in stock -- or even seen in person! Pictures don't do it justice, because the scale of this bench is incredible. The bench is almost e...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Benches
MaterialsOak
- Arne Vodder Danish Modern Teak and Cane Dining chair setBy Sibast, Arne VodderLocated in Kalamazoo, MIA rare set of teak framed chairs with woven cane seats and backs designed by Arne Vodder and made by Sibast of Denmark in the 1950s. This set incl...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsCane, Teak
- Don Shoemaker Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated 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 Diamond Geometric Marquetry TrayBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated 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 surfa...Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated 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
- Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated 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
- Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for SeñalBy Don S. Shoemaker, SenalLocated 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 linear marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican...Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsRosewood
- Large Exotic Mixed Wood Tray by Don ShoemakerBy Don S. ShoemakerLocated in Atlanta, GAA large rectangular wood tray designed by Don Shoemaker and handcrafted by SEN~AL, S.A. Mexico circa 1950. Using exotic local wood in Mexico such...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsWood
