Don Shoemaker

DON SHOEMAKER (Nebraska, USA 1919 - Morelia, Mexico 1990).
Ottoman chair and side table.
In rosewood and black leather.
Slight marks due to the passage of time.
With original label.
Measurements: 69 x 60 x 60 cm (chair), 38,5 x 60,5 x 60,5 cm (table).

The piece corresponds to an ottoman chair with a side table, designed by Don Shoemaker and produced in Mexico in the 1960s by Señal S.A.. This set is part of the international design movement of the mid-twentieth century, known as Mid-Century Modern, characterized by the combination of functionality, organic lines and high quality natural materials.

The chair has a structure made of solid rosewood, one of the most appreciated tropical woods in the production of modern furniture due to the richness of its grain and its great resistance. The structure is composed of open, slightly curved legs that provide stability and visual lightness, while the arms are integrated into the frame by means of continuous, flowing lines that generate an enveloping, ergonomic silhouette. The seat and backrest are made of a single piece of black stretched leather, fastened to the frame by visible nailing on the front, a constructive solution characteristic of Shoemaker's designs that combines functionality, comfort and a markedly handcrafted character.

The side table that accompanies the chair maintains the same material and formal coherence of the set. It is also made of rosewood and has a square tabletop with gently rounded corners, formed by small pieces of wood arranged in a mosaic-like geometric pattern. This tabletop rests on four curved and open legs that repeat the organic language of the chair, reinforcing the stylistic unity of the whole.

Don Shoemaker's work is distinguished by his ability to integrate modern international design with Mexican artisan traditions and the use of high quality local woods. His furniture, produced mainly by Señal S.A. during the 1950s and 1960s, achieved a remarkable international diffusion and today is considered representative pieces of modern design produced in Mexico. The described set is a significant example of this production, which combines material quality, careful craftsmanship and formal elegance characteristic of mid-twentieth century design.