Senal Furniture
Mexican
If it weren’t for his honeymoon, American furniture designer Don S. Shoemaker and his company, Señal S.A., 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, Shoemaker 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 modest factory became Señal S.A., 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 Señal S.A. tables, lounge chairs and other furniture.
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Creator: Senal
Don Shoemaker "Sling Swinger" Chair in Bocote & Black Leather, Mexico C. 1970
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Don Shoemaker for Señal S.A. Bocote & Black Leather Lounge Chair. Featuring handcrafted braced and smooth Mexican Bocote Wood, peg construction, comfortable ergonomic Sling, newly up...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Don Shoemaker - Senal Exotic Mixed Hardwoods Rosewood Trinket Box Made in Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by eccentric woodworker and designer Don Shoemaker, this trinket box was made by Senal in Mexico. It employs a cacophany of exotic woods, including cocobolo, jacaranda, and ...
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Jacaranda, Mahogany, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Sling Chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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
Category
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A. Cocobolo Rosewood Leather Sofa, Mid Century
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Inlaid Decorative Briefcase for Señal, circa 1970
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted slim decorative briefcase designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, shoemaker founded Señal w...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Sling Sloucher Chairs Señal, Sculptural and Organic, Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Don S. Shoemaker (1919-1990) was a US (NE) born Mexican designer and painter, probably the most representative designer of Mexico Modernist furniture...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A. Cocobolo Rosewood 'Swinger' Rocking Chair, Signed
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Named the 'Swinger Chair' for its pivoting mechanism that allows you to swing in your seat, this incredible cocobolo rosewood and black leather 'Swinger' rocking armchair by leading 1960s modernist designer Don Shoemaker for Senal S.A. (Mexico) is highly sought after by interior designers and avid collectors alike.
The thick black leather hides used for the sling are complemented with leather buttons connecting the sling to the frame of the chair. Matching black leather removable seat cushion has beautiful patina as can be seen in the photos. Artistically sculpted exotic cocobolo rosewood put together in an eye catching and interesting biomorphic form with shoemaker's signature rosewood insert accents for the feet and upper back of the chair. Exceptional craftsmanship utilizing innovative links and joints. Metal brackets connecting the seat to the frame allow the chair to gently rock - consider this as a nursing chair for the design-centric home. Senal S.A. label on lower bar of chair.
Mexican modern is a style that fits incredibly well with Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian or Danish Modern, Brazilian Modern, and Hollywood Regency. It is also a great addition for interior designers to turn an otherwise simple contemporary space and add a splash of wild and interesting.
Whether you are designing a Mid-Century Modern home, contemporary, post-modern or french neoclassical apartment, this Don Shoemaker Swinger...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-Century Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Senal SA Sling Swinger Chairs Set of 4
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent set of four rare original Mid-Century Modern Mexican bocote wood and black leather "Swingers" by legendary designer Don S. Shoemaker (1919-1990)
This iconic Modernist ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Don Shoemaker Sculpted Rosewood & Leather Coffee Table for Señal Furniture
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Folding Arm Chairs, Mexico c.1960-Price is per chair
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
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 Senal Furniture
Materials
Rosewood, Teak
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Cocobolo Dining Table by Don S. Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Wanna be a bond villain in real life? Well here's your chance. Certain pieces just command respect and deserve appreciation for their flawless design. "WTF?" is typically the first thing uttered when people see this on our showroom floor. A literal jaw-droppper, regardless of whether installing as a dining table, desk or conference table. Lovingly restored by our in-house cabinet shop, this cocobolo wood table by Don S. Shoemaker is a rare find. Geometry and brutalism intertwine to form an architectural masterpiece of function and form. Staved slats of offset cocobolo form a brilliant patchwork that covers every visible inch of both the top and bottom sections. The grain and color tones vary in each slat to create a stunning visual contrast throughout.
The pedestal and top separate easily without any screws or bolts. The table top has a grid-work of rails underneath that sink into corresponding notches on the base. The base is brilliantly assembled with a hollow interior to keep the weight to a minimum. This massive construction is surprisingly totable, without compromising rigidity or stability.
Although we're uncertain on the production quantity, the total number is probably quite minuscule. Tagged with its original label and numbered #6 in several locations.
About the designer:
Furniture designer Don Shoemaker was born in Nebraska to an affluent family. During the 1930s, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he married and subsequently, on his honeymoon, fell in love with Mexico. He loved the country so much that later in the 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his wife. Shoemaker lived and painted in a town called Santa Maria de Guido, overseeing the City of Morelia in Michoacán.
Don and his wife Barbara lived in harmony with nature, growing many rare plants in their greenhouse. Don became inspired by the tropical woods of Mexico and began to manufacture furniture from these precious timbers. What began as a small factory in the late 1950s became known as Señal S.A and grew to where Don employed more than a hundred skilled artisans. Soon he became an important figure in the economic and cultural life of his adopted town. Señal S.A brought new wealth and an economic boost to the town, and Dom was known for his warm and charitable heart.
The furniture designed for Señal S.A by Don were modern interpretations of traditional Mexican furnishings. Many of his iconic designs were inspired by traditional Mexican woodwork. The pieces made from Cocobolo, a Mexican rosewood, and other precious woods were highly sought after. The furniture was exported to showrooms in Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and large Mexican cities. His designs were liked very much by wealthy Mexican families...
Category
1960s Mexican Post-Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Geometric Marquetry Tray with Stand
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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 has a repeating geometric ...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Midcentury Lounge Chair in Rosewood & Leather by Don Shoemaker, 1960s
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage Mid-Century Modern armchair was designed in the 1950s by Don Shoemaker and produced by Señal, S.A., Mexico circa 1960. A leading midcentury Mexican modernist, Shoemaker’...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal Furniture
Materials
Cocobolo, Leather, Rosewood
Don Shoemaker Bookends for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at The Fine Arts Institution of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his family and settled in Santa Maria de Guido...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Set of 2 Candlesticks by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at The Fine Arts Institution of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his family and settled in Santa Maria de Guido...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Scandinavian Modern Senal Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Don Shoemaker Serving Tray
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at The Fine Arts Institution of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his family and settled in Santa Maria de Guido...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal Furniture
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Chest F15 by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at The Fine Arts Institution of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his family and settled in Santa Maria de Gui...
Category
1960s Mexican Spanish Colonial Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Don Shoemaker Dining Chairs
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Pair of Don Shoemaker dining chairs (F84C), original leather on the seat and back, reversible seat and original buttons too.
Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at T...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Granadillo
Don Shoemaker Sloucher Rosewood & Leather Sling Chairs for Señal, S.A., 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Cedar Falls, IA
For your consideration, a pair of 1960s Don Shoemaker Sloucher lounge chairs, in solid cocobolo rosewood and black leather. Iconic example of Organi...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Mahogany 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 mahogany frame and original black leather hide. Nail details line the top of the seat back of t...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of Don Shoemaker for Senal Sling Chairs
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A 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
1960s Mexican Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Don Shoemaker Sling "Swinger" Chair and Ottoman for Señal, S.A, 1960
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
One set of Swinger chair and ottoman from Don Shoemaker for the iconic Señal, S.A workshop of Mexico. This chair has been refinished and are in excellent condition. The chairs retain...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray 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 geometric marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Expertly Restored - Don S. Shoemaker Rosewood Oval Tray for Señal Furniture
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Wood
60s Don Shoemaker Tray Exotic Mexican Hardwood Diamond Geometric Motif Craftsman
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Don Shoemaker designed tray for Senal S.A. Nice uncommon diamond inlays.
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Pencil Holder for Señal, Mexico, 1980s
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Don Shoemaker Cocobolo Pencil Holder for Señal, Mexico, 1980s. Makers label to the bottom.
Category
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Senal Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cocobolo
1970s Don Shoemaker Service Tray Exotic Wood Stripe Señal Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s Don Shoemaker produced by Senal in Mexico
Service tray in exotic wood
Cut out Handle design for easy carry
20.5 T x 12 W x 1.25 D
Discreet mounting hardware
Retains original ma...
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Rosewood, Cocobolo
60's Don S Shoemaker for Senal Carved Rosewood Tic-tac-toe Game Mexico Sculpture
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Diego, CA
Fantastic hand made Don S. Shoemaker designed tic-tac-toe game for Senal and dates from the 1960's. Made of beautiful rosewood. Has the original artists tag on the bottom. The game i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Senal Furniture
Materials
Wood, Rosewood
1970s Don Shoemaker for Señal Carved Root Wood Box Mexico
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s Free form lidded box designer Don Shoemaker Mexico
Retains original label Señal
Cocobolo root wood
6.5 h x 4 d x 10 w
Original vintage unrestored condition.
Expect signs of vin...
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Cocobolo, Wood
Sculptural Cocobolo Rosewood Leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century Modern leather sling lounge chair and ottoman designed by Don Shoemaker in cocobolo rosewood manufactured by Senal S.A., ...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Rosewood, Leather
Don Shoemaker Parquetry Work Box for Senal SA, Mexico, Label
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great parquetry box, designed for Don Shoemaker, label, Senal SA.
Category
1960s Mexican Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Senal Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Early Vintage Rosewood Salt and Pepper Shaker Set by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century Modern abstract salt and pepper shakers designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal, S.A. Mexico. This set is handmade in rosewood with unique brass ring dispensers that makes fo...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Senal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Don Shoemaker Wood Inlaid Chevron Pattern Cutting Board for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
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 Senal Furniture
Materials
Rosewood, Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A 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 Senal Furniture
Materials
Cocobolo
Don Shoemaker for Señal Bookends in Solid Cocobolo
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A 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 Senal Furniture
Materials
Cocobolo
Senal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Senal furniture 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 Senal furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Senal were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Michael van Beuren, Pedro Friedeberg, and Eugenio Escudero. Prices for Senal furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $225 and can go as high as $3,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $925.