Don Shoemaker Furniture

Are you prepared to buy Don S. Shoemaker originals? Let´s make a quiz…

Appearances are deceptive. That´s why you must train your eye to find the differences between the originals, the copies and  forgeries. It is like playing the cartoon of the 7 differences, but this time with the added value that you can lose a lot of money in a bad perception. This is the only weapon that we collectors have to fight forgers that are flooding the market taking advantage of our good faith.

Do not forget the MANTRA: if the piece seems odd,  if the leather is new, the wood looks new and smells like new, and carries no label or stamp or is taped, then it is a forgery or a brand new copy !

• The Sling side table is part of the original “Sling Casuals Line” designed by Don S. Shoemaker in the 60´s. I have included a picture of an original Sling side table from my personal collection and a picture of a brand new copy, as seen at an auction. The Sling side table was available either with a wooden top or a leather top.

Now, are you ready to identify which one is the original Sling side table and which one is the copy?

• Another example for you to analyze. Which one is the original Don S. Shoemaker diamond desk and which one is the copy?

• The Elephant Lounge chair: which one is the original Don S. Shoemaker and which one is the forgery?

• This table is the last one in our quiz. Have you decided which one is the original Don S. Shoemaker table and which one is the fake? One of them was found in a Mexican auction house and the other one in a Chicago based auction house.

Copyright © 2010 Karin Goyer. All rights Reserved

@donshoemaker.com

During the decade of the 70´s Don experimented with linear designs and created the “Diamond Line” or sometimes referred as to “Z Line”, built in laminated tropical woods. There is a very well-known example, the diamond desk of Jacobo Zabludovsky, one of Mexico´s most famous newscasters. Street tales say that a total of 25 diamond desks were produced, but the unlabeled desks currently on sale might be easily 10 times that number…

To compare, let’s review two samples of the original Don S. Shoemaker diamond desk versions available during the 70′s and 80′s, showing some completely normal wear on the surface and on the desk legs, great looking laminated tropical woods, both carrying the Don S. Shoemaker original label:

Below are samples of brand new diamond desk copies as I have already seen several of them around, based on both original versions shown above. As you are able to judge by yourself, the laminated woods look brand new, evident is the total absence of patina, no scratches, no dents. The wood has still the greenish color of fresh cut wood, the surface shows no wear at all, and no Don S. Shoemaker label is present.

Again, I will withhold information about the original design to prevent better copies!

Copyright © 2010 Karin Goyer. All rights Reserved

@donshoemaker.com

Brand new Don S. Shoemaker copies have been around for some time. Unfortunately they are being sold as “genuine” Don S. Shoemaker furniture pieces. Here we have a selection of them and the differences between the Don S. Shoemaker original pieces vs. the newly produced copies that have come my way so far. Of course, these copies are fine pieces as long as the same tropical woods are being used, but some copies are made in more commercial woods and the finish does not compare to a Don S. Shoemaker original. In all fairness, they should all be sold according to what they are: copies, not pretending to be Don S. Shoemaker originals.

Sadly, there are many very sloppy copies, however most reproductions made under the “Arrendadora Shoemaker” label are perfect.

Compare the original piece with the copy so you can detect the differences:

The ottoman that goes with the Sling chair is well known by most Don S. Shoemaker fans. The original Don S. Shoemaker Sling  footstool is traditionally produced in tropical woods; cueramo and cocobolo were Don´s favorites. Below is an original Sling footstool in cocobolo versus two recent copies: one of them  in an odd “combo woods” design (!) and the other brand new footstool was made in mahogany. No mahogany Sling chairs were ever produced during the good old SEÑAL, S.A. production days.

Copyright © 2010 Karin Goyer. All rights Reserved

@donshoemaker.com