Furthermore to the unfortunate Don S. Shoemaker exhibition of fakes, forgeries and attributions at the Mexico City Museo de Arte Moderno, I will share with you some anecdotal occurrences that I discovered when I went through the reading of the exhibition catalogue: Among many pages of boring, mediocre and irrelevant …
William Spratling was an American-born silversmith and artist, best-known for his influence on 20th century Mexican silver design. He established a model for the artistic development and growth of the silver industry in Taxco and deserves the title “Father of Contemporary Mexican Silver”. Spratling visited Mexico for the first time …
George spent a lot of time experimenting with different concepts to further enhance his father´s furniture lines and produce new designs. He was an imaginative designer by his own right and he developed several prototypes, some of them would make it to production, others were discarded. This was back in …
The 1940’s: Don´s adventure in Mexico started in 1947 in San Miguel Allende. The 1950’s: In 1951 Don and Barbara settled in Santa Maria de Guido, Morelia. By 1955 the Shoemakers fled to the U.S. overnight. Their business became a cooperative and soon went broke. The 1960’s: The Shoemakers are …
During one of George´s visits to our home he saw our brand new (at that time) Bang Olufsen BeoSound 9000 (nowadays in the MoMa) and he decided to play some CD´s of his selection. My God! He opened the cabinet in which we stored the CD´s and it was …
When attributing a piece of furniture to Don S. Shoemaker becomes grotesque: -Who is to blame? The consignor (particular? dealer?) that attributes a piece to a well-known designer, obviously with the hope of a good (profit? scamp?) Furniture designs belonging to someone else, whose fine work in cueramo, cocobolo, granadilla, …
George did not mastermind a large quantity of furniture pieces during the time he directed the destiny of ARRENDADORA SHOEMAKER, but his designs were very appreciated by the Shoemakeristis. Many George R. Shoemaker furniture pieces are copied and sold as “Don S. Shoemaker originals” not recognizing George´s talent and contribution …
Special credit should be awarded to Don´s beloved son George, who, after Don passed away in 1990, took over and directed with great dedication the company under the label “ARRENDADORA SHOEMAKER“, producing many of his own designs and furniture pieces under this brand name until his early death in 2005. …
