Poul Cadovius Royale System Walnut Wall Unit, circa 1965
View Similar Items
Poul Cadovius Royale System Walnut Wall Unit, circa 1965
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 78 in (198.12 cm)Width: 96 in (243.84 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1965
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good original vintage condition with only slight wear to top of cabinet, otherwise excellent for the age. Unrestored.
- Seller Location:Costa Mesa, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1384219988162
Poul Cadovius
While Poul Cadovius is most famous for his modular floating shelving system, his career in design didn’t actually start with wall units.
Born just outside of Copenhagen in 1911, Cadovius began manufacturing window treatments in the 1940s with his partner, Hother Brønner. He soon turned his focus from Venetian blinds to furniture, finding success designing svelte pieces in teak, a richly colored hardwood favored by the Danish mid-century modernists.
In 1945, Cadovius founded the furniture manufacturer Royal System with his designs, including the 1948 Royal System shelving unit, a space-saving solution that underscored Cadovius’s penchant for problem-solving in a multifunctional way. Rather than balance shelves on wooden or metal legs, it held them to the wall with brackets.
Cadovius followed the Royal System shelving unit with the System Ultra in 1957, the System Cado in 1960 and the System Abstracta, which was installed throughout the exhibition halls of the 1962 Cologne Furniture Fair. All expanded on his idea of wall-mounted shelving that saved space while offering functionality, allowing for limitless combinations of storage, shelves, work surfaces and other units. The Royal System proved to be especially popular and is still produced by Danish furniture brand dk3 today, with early models continuing to be in demand.
Along with the shelving systems, Cadovius designed everything from lounge chairs to mushroom-shaped bus shelters, and he held over 400 patents. In addition to being a designer, he was also an entrepreneur with an eye for opportunity, such as purchasing Danish manufacturer France & Søn in the mid-1960s and folded it into Cado, a company he founded years earlier. He used this as an occasion to experiment with his designs, conceiving such unusual pieces as an aluminum-based dining table topped with rosewood and hand-painted by artist Susan Fjedldoe Mygge.
Cadovius’s innovations in shelving continued throughout his career, with examples like the sculptural Butterfly shelf and vertical pieces mixing shelving and storage. In 2018, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Royal System, dk3 reissued the celebrated shelving system as well as a more compact version reimagined for 21st-century homes.
Find a collection of vintage Poul Cadovius storage cabinets, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Abstract Wood and Brass Scorpion Sculpture, circa 1965Located in Costa Mesa, CAAbstract wood and brass Scorpion sculpture, circa 1965. Abstract brutalist style scorpion on black base. Beautiful carved wood with solid brass spik...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Leather Hippo Pair by Deru Germany, circa 1960By DeruLocated in Costa Mesa, CALeather Hippo Pair by Deru Germany, circa 1960. Wonderful examples with perfect warm patina to the leather. Both marked on feet and in overall good condition. Rivets are on underside. Large hippo...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsLeather
$1,200 Sale Price / set20% Off - Dunbar Open Frame Lounge or Armchair, circa 1960By Edward Wormley, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Costa Mesa, CADunbar open frame lounge or armchair, circa 1960. Newly restored with new upholstery and ebonized mahogany frame. Bears makers label on underside. Measures: H 29.5 in. x W 25.5 in...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Mahogany
- Pair of Ico Parisi Italian Walnut and Marble Side Tables, ca. 1960By Ico ParisiLocated in Costa Mesa, CAPair of Ico Parisi Italian Walnut and Marble Side Tables, ca. 1960. Walnut star bases float on top of the tripod star base with sculpted legs and feet. Base has been professionall...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsCarrara Marble
$3,196 Sale Price / set20% Off - David Cressey Drip Glaze Ceramic Table Lamp, circa 1970By David CresseyLocated in Costa Mesa, CADavid Cressey drip glaze ceramic table lamp, circa 1970. Beautiful mustard glaze with walnut base and original wiring in good working condition. Does not include shade. Measures: 21...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Enrique Garcel Round Tessellated Bone Mirror, circa 1970By Enrique GarcelLocated in Costa Mesa, CAEnrique Garcel round tessellated bone mirror, circa. 1970. Beautiful tessellated bone with crown detail. Mirror is free of cracks or chips and frame is in excellent vintage condition...Category
Vintage 1970s Colombian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBone
$2,600 Sale Price52% Off
- Wall Unit in Elmwood by Poul Cadovius for Royal System, Denmark, 1950sBy Royal System, Poul CadoviusLocated in Amsterdam, NLBlack wooden risers and elmwood veneer book shelves and cabinet with black metal hooks. This wall unit consist of: 2 x shelf 80 x 20 cm 1 x shelf 80 ...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Teak Cado System Wall Unit by Poul CadoviusBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Los Angeles, CAHighly versatile and functional wall unit in teak by Danish designer Poul Cadovius. The unit shown is an example of what we typically stock. Units are sold by the component- wall r...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsTeak
$15,000 / item - Danish Modern Teak & Glass Shelving System Abstracta by Poul Cadovius, 1960sBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in Odense, DKIngenious minimalist shelving or display unit SYSTEM ABSTRACTA designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, in the 1960s. The system consists of black metal...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsMetal
- Poul Cadovius For Royal System Cado Danish Rosewood Four Bay Wall UnitBy Poul Cadovius, Royal SystemLocated in Peabody, MARoyal System “Cado” four bay wall unit in rosewood, designed by Poul Cadovius circa 1960s, Denmark. Purchased by prior owner in 1973. It features floor to ceiling wall panels, floor ...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsRosewood
- Poul Cadovius 'butterfly" wall shelves 3 units Denmark 1950By Poul CadoviusLocated in Paris, FRSet of three midcentury shelves in metal. Model 'Butterfly' Designed and made by Poul Cadovius 1960s. in Denmark white. red, green inside, black outside length about 29.5cm x 29.5cm ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsMetal, Sheet Metal
- Set of 6 Butterfly Shelves in Teak by Poul Cadovius, 1950'sBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Limhamn, Skåne länSet of 6 Butterfly Shelves in Teak by Poul Cadovius, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Teak Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced in Denm...Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsTeak