I received pictures from one of my readers on this Don S. Shoemaker attributed round table in an auction:
- I had to take the time to pay a visit to this auction house to verify (my apologies to my reader) that this primitive and ugly round table was listed as a Don S. Shoemaker original. I was flabbergasted! I am trying really hard to find just one possible argument on how this rustic round table with such an uncouth finish could have been attributed to Don S. Shoemaker and accepted as such. I was absolutely horrified when I took a look at the table´s underside. The table top consists on many cueramo planks which underneath are joined by screwed pine planks, this is the evidence that the forger or the owner and the specialist or curator of the auction house (if any), do not know something about Don S. Shoemaker designs. We all know that he excelled in developing systems for link and joint and that he tried to avoid no matter what the use of screws and nails in his work.
I just read the catalog that I bought while I was leaving the auction house and I found these pearls of humour that I want to share with you:
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- I will quote the introduction for the “Don Shoemaker pieces” in the catalog for this auction: ” He did not use nuts, screws or nails, each one of his pieces were produced on the base of joints, links, etc.” So they did not read what they wrote? Or maybe they do not know that those shiny things on the underside of the table top are called screws…
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- Description of the Lot: Round dining table, ca. 1970. Are they talking about the year in which the forger was born?
- Would you believe them that the table is made in cocobolo wood?
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Don S. Shoemaker Furniture Designs 
Hello Karin
I have this table in my possession. I can’t explain how shocked and disappointed i am of what i’m reading in your post.
I spoke to the people in the auction house and they claim this table was given to them by the Shoemaker family. I asked for a certificate of authenticity, but they have only given long answers. It’s been almost two weeks and they haven’t got it.
I don’t know you, but from what I see in your website, I trust your judgement more than Morton’s. I want to return it, and get my money back.
Can you please corroborate this is a fake Shoemaker?
Thank you very much for your time.
E.S.
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Dear Eduardo,
This is easy: go straight to the auction house tomorrow and ask to see the original consignor agreement for this specific piece. Check on who´s name the agreement is.
I guess it is on the name of someone who is not a relative to Don S.
Shoemaker. Then the auction house is lying to you.
And in any event that it is, maybe they had this piece of furniture at home
and they thought that for that reason it was an original work of Don S.
Shoemaker. Suspiciously there were too many fake pieces in this auction.
A certificate of authenticity from a relative is worthless. You better get your money back.
Best regards,
Karin Goyer
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