Don Shoemaker Sling Chairs
I picked these up years ago at an estate sale. I don't have much history on them from where I purchased, just that they were likely made in the 1960s. I have had them since the late 1990s? I have done some research and they appear to be Don Shoemaker's sling chair. They do not have the label underneath, but from what I gather not all of his chairs did. The structure seems solid, with just expected aging. The leather is likely also original.
24 inches wide, 27 inches high (at back)
Other
Yes
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Don S. Shoemaker was an American-born furniture designer best known for his role in Mexican mid-century modern design and for founding the workshop/factory Señal S.A. in Mexico, which eventually employed over 100 skilled artisans.. His work blends craftsmanship, modernist ideas, and traditional Mexican materials and forms.
Born in Nebraska in 1919, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago during the 1930s, originally training in painting. After World War II, he and his wife Barbara honeymooned in Mexico, fell in love with the country, and settled in Santa María de Guido near Morelia, Michoacán.
His designs were inspired by tropical hardwoods like cocobolo (Mexican rosewood) and other exotic timbers, Shoemaker began making furniture in the late 1950s. Shoemaker’s work is often described as a modern interpretation of traditional Mexican crafts—melding local woodwork with mid-century modern sensibilities. He produced furnishings such as chairs, stools, tables, benches, decorative objects, and even smaller home accessories. The Sling Sloucher Chair was one of his most iconic and celebrated designs.
Shoemaker's original chairs have a vitality to the shaping of the elements that your chairs lack and I think they might either be later versions or knockoffs but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and appraising them as though they are original; if they are examined by an expert in his furniture and determined to be later, they will be worth less.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
A pair of Don Shoemaker Sling Sloucher Chairs
circa 1950s-60s
Unmarked
Height of back: 27 inches; width: 24 inches
CONDITION: These chairs appears to be in age-appropriate condition
PROVENANCE: Acquired at an estate sale
$2,000-3,000 for the pair*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
If you look at this link (https://side-gallery.com/designer/don-shoemaker/?utm_source) you'll see that the elements on his original chairs are more "knobby" for lack of a better word. The frames of your chairs aren't quite that robustly carved.
I always recommend a higher asking price than the fair market value in case you don't get offers and you have to lower your price. It is easier to reduce a price than raise one in my experience. I don't know why it says what it says as most specialists on Mearto follow the same practice I do.
I hope that clarifies things but please let me know if you have additional questions.
Delia
Thank you so much!
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Thank you. Two quick questions for clarification. Can you elaborate or link to what you mean by this: "Shoemaker's original chairs have a vitality to the shaping of the elements that your chairs lack"
And in your definitions of FMV and Suggested Asking Price, it says Suggested Asking Price is lower, but in this appraisal it is higher?
" Suggested Asking Price
If you’ve indicated an interest in selling your item, our specialists have recommended an asking price. This price may be slightly lower than the fair market value to set reasonable expectations."
Thank you.