Poul Cadovius Abstracta shelving unit teak Denmark 1960
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Introducing the elegant 'Abstracta' free standing shelving system, a stunning example of
Metal
$2,594Sale Price|20% Off
H 42.92 in W 64.18 in D 16.93 in
Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' vintage Modular Display Unit, Denmark 1960
By Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Minimal Danish modular display shelving by Poul Cadovius — Abstracta System, 1960s. A beautiful
Metal
$7,044
H 51.19 in W 59.06 in D 31.5 in
Danish Modern Teak & Glass Shelving System Abstracta by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Odense, DK
Ingenious minimalist shelving or display unit SYSTEM ABSTRACTA designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark
Metal
Vintage Poul Cadovius Abstracta shelving system
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Oirlo, LI
Vintage Poul Cadovius Abstracta shelving system Beautiful Abstracta wall unit Designed in the 1950s
Chrome
Abstracta Shelving Sofa Table
By Abstracta
Located in Chicago, IL
Horizontal tubular frame, sturdy to hold 3 Carrara marble slabs, sofa table or wall unit.
Carrara Marble, Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Shelving System, Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Norwalk, CT
Very nice modern shaped 'Abstracta' shelving system designed by Poul Cadovius produced by Royal
Steel, Chrome
Abstracta Shelving Unit Poul Cadovius, Denmark, 1960
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice modern shaped 'Abstracta' shelving system designed by Poul Cadovius and manufactured by
Metal
Abstracta Shelving by Poul Cadovius Royal System, Denmark, 1960
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice large modernist shaped so called 'Abstracta' shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and
Aluminum, Steel
Poul Cadovious Abstracta Shelving Unit
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cadovious abstracta standing wall unit or room divider. Black enameled metal frame. Re-arrangeable
Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Shelving Unit
By Royal, Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extra large Cadovius "ABRSTACTA" shelving unit or room divider with black enameled tubular frame
Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Modular Shelving System
By Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
abstracta shelving units see our other listings.
Metal
Sold
H 53.15 in W 32.29 in D 16.93 in
Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' vintage Modular Display Unit, Denmark 1960
By Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Minimal Danish modular display shelving by Poul Cadovius — Abstracta System, 1960s. A beautiful
Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Modular Shelving System
By Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Minimalist shelving unit designed by and produced by Royal System, Denmark, circa 1960. This
Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Modular Shelving System
By Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Minimalist shelving unit designed by and produced by Royal System, Denmark, circa 1960. This
Metal
Sold
H 16.25 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
1960's Poul Cadovius Abstracta Style Stacking Shelving Unit or Room Divider
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible, Mid-Century standing shelving unit or room divider. Reminiscent of Poul Cadovius
Metal
Vintage Danish Abstracta Bookcase by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
shelving unit system Abstracta, Denmark designed in 1962 by Danish architect Poul Cadovius. He was also
Aluminum, Steel
Vintage Danish Abstracta Low Bookcase by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
shelving unit system Abstracta, Denmark designed in 1962 by Danish architect Poul Cadovius. He was also
Aluminum, Steel
Sold
H 61.03 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Vintage Danish Abstracta Corner Bookcase by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
minimalistic shelving unit system Abstracta, Denmark designed in 1962 by Danish architect Poul Cadovius. He was
Aluminum, Steel
Abstracta Shelving System Poul Cadovius, Denmark, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice modern shaped 'Abstracta' shelving system designed by Poul Cadovius produced by Royal
Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Shelving Unit Denmark, 1960
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice modern shaped 'Abstracta' shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced by Royal
Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Shelving Unit, Denmark, 1960
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice minimalistic shaped and so called ‘Abstracta’ shelving system designed by Poul Cadovius
Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Shelving System, Denmark, 1960
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice modern shaped 'Abstracta' shelving system designed by Poul Cadovius produced by Royal
Metal
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Shelving System, Denmark 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. This unit
Metal
Poul Cadovius 2-Piece Abstracta Shelving Unit, Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
2-Piece Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius in Denmark around 1960. Frame with black
Metal
Sold
H 61.03 in W 32.29 in D 14.18 in
Poul Cadovius 1-Piece Abstracta Shelving System, Danish Design, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. This unit
Steel
Sold
H 67.72 in W 95.67 in D 27.56 in
Poul Cadovius 3-Piece XL Abstracta Shelving System, Denmark, 1960’s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
3-Piece Abstracta shelving unit designed by P. Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. This
Metal, Steel
Vintage Poul Cadovious Systema Abstracta Shelving Unit
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Treasure Island, CA
Poul Cadovious, Systema Abstracta, modular steel and glass etagere. Designed 1960. Manufactured by
Steel
Poul Cadovius Shelving Unit 'Abstracta', Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. Frame in
Steel
Sold
H 51.19 in W 96.07 in D 14.18 in
Poul Cadovius 3-Piece Shelving System 'Abstracta', Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
3-Piece Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. This
Steel
Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' 1-Piece Shelving Unit, Denmark 1960’s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
1-Piece Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. This
Metal
Sold
H 51.19 in W 95.67 in D 11.42 in
Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' 3-Piece Shelving System, Denmark, 1960’s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
3-Piece Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. This
Metal
Poul Cadovius 2-piece Abstracta wall unit, Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
2-Piece Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius in Denmark around 1960. Frame with black
Metal
Sold
H 29.14 in W 17.72 in D 11.42 in
Set of 4 Abstracta side tables by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, 1960's
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Set ‘Abstracta’ shelving units designed by P. Cadovius in Denmark around 1960. This unit consist of
Steel
Abstracta Modular Shelving System by Poul Cadovius
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in 's Heer Arendskerke, NL
The Abstracta system was designed by Poul Cadovius in 1952 for Royal System. The tubes made of
$2,915
H 10.75 in W 5.25 in D 4.4 in
Striking Art Nouveau Ceramic and Bronze-Mounted Vase in Victor Horta Style
By Victor Horta
Located in Lisse, NL
Top condition and pure elegance Art Nouveau vase. For the collectors of museum quality and condition Art Nouveau ceramics. This stunning Art Nouveau vase is decorated with the mos...
Bronze
George Ciancimino large travertine and aluminium coffee table
By George Ciancimino
Located in London, GB
Fabulous large and low travertine and aluminium coffee table designed by George Ciancimino. Beautiful figured travertine.
Travertine, Aluminum
French Style 1950s Plant Stand
Located in Sharon, CT
A plant stand that holds four small plants in style. Light blue over white paint. The holes are 4" in diameter.
Steel
$3,465Sale Price|30% Off
H 27.5 in W 17.25 in D 17.25 in
French Baroque Style Wrought-Iron Stained Glass Hall Lantern, 19th-20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th-20th century Baroque Revival style wrought iron and four-color vitreaux stained glass single-light hall lantern, the rounded four stained glass panels with red, green, ...
Wrought Iron
$710 / item
H 14.5 in W 7.5 in D 1.5 in
fferrone Contemporary Modern Mirror Polished Stainless Steel Candle Wall Scone
By Felicia Ferrone
Located in Chicago, IL
Strikingly simple and minimal, the contemporary, modern, asymmetrical candle wall sconce, made from mirror polish stainless steel, reflects the light doubling it’s effect which perfe...
Stainless Steel
$4,650
H 28.75 in W 49.22 in D 23.63 in
Jean Prouvé Compass Direction Desk Limited RAW Steel and Natural Oak by Vitra
By Vitra, Jean Prouvé
Located in Dronten, NL
Jean Prouvé Compass direction desk in natural oak and clear lacquered steel for Vitra. Originally designed in 1953, Prouvé's iconic desk is based the design on the structural princip...
Steel
Frits Henningsen Sofa
By Frits Henningsen
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Frits Henningsen Marking(s); notes: no marking(s) apparent Country of origin; materials: Denmark; wood, wool and silk upholstery Dimensions (H, W, D): ...
Upholstery, Hardwood
$6,679
H 16.54 in W 21.66 in D 11.03 in
French Mid Century Side Console Table in Black Metal by Mathieu Matégot, 1950s
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare French black lacquered mid century half round console side table by Mathieu Matégot for Steph Simon Paris, 1950s. In good original condition with patina from age and use. Matche...
Metal
Paul Frankl, Organic Coffee Table, Cork Top, Mahogany Base, 1950s
By Johnson Furniture Co., Paul Frankl
Located in High Point, NC
A very rare cork top coffee table or cocktail table by Paul Frankl for American manufacturer Johnson Furniture Company, circa 1955. The playful cork top features a tear-drop shaped ...
Mahogany, Cork
Frederick John Kiesler Nesting Tables, 1935
By Frederick John Kiesler
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Frederick John Kiesler Nesting Tables, metal, USA, 1935 Designed in 1935 by Austrian-American visionary Frederick Kiesler, this rare set of nesting coffee tables exemplifies the org...
Metal
$1,133 / item
H 0.8 in Dm 39.4 in
"My Moon My Mirror" Round Wall Mirror in Printed Glass by Moroso for Diesel
By Moroso, Diesel Creative Team 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"My Moon My Mirror" is a round wall mirror, designed by Diesel Creative Team and manufactured by Moroso, featuring a tempered glass mirror silvered and with a picture of the moon pri...
Glass
Liceu de Artes e Ofícios. 19th Century Daybed
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This recamier/daybed was conceived and executed with utmost quality and expertise, showing a style that incorporates many influences from the eigtheenth and ninetheenth century. Made...
Wood
Maison Leleu, Unique Pair of Side Tables, France, 1963
By Maison Leleu
Located in New York, NY
This pair of unique lacquer side tables feature flat, bronze legs not at the corners but unusually at the midpoint of each side, lending a surprising sense of weightlessness enhanced...
Bronze
19th Century Travel Trunk by Innovation
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century travel trunk by Innovation Innovation is a well known American company which specialised in luxury travel wardrobes and suitcases, they had a shop on Les Champs Elysé...
19th Century Chinese Cabinet
Located in Martlesham, GB
A fabulous quality 19th century Chinese cabinet, a cupboard each at the top and bottom with workable locks, with a single drawer in the centre, with very fine carved details on the p...
Wood
$5,500
H 72 in W 65 in D 16 in
Unusual Two Bay Solid Teak Stereo Wall Unit Woodcraft Mid-Century Modern
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Unusual Two bay solid teak stereo wall unit made by the Canadian company WoodCraft. This wall unit can be arranged to suit your needs having a wonderful cabinet with pull out desk fo...
Teak
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.
Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.
Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.