$2,250
H 27.75 in W 79.5 in D 20.5 in
1960s Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' Shelving System with Glass & Mirror
By Poul Cadovius, Abstracta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare and unique modular shelving unit, this Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' system features a chrome
Chrome
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
$6,829
H 51.19 in W 59.06 in D 31.5 in
Danish Modern Teak & Glass Shelving System Abstracta by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
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 Poul Cadovius, Royal System
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 Poul Cadovius, Royal System
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 Poul Cadovius, Royal
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 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
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 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 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 System, 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 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
Picasso Marble Cone Side Table
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Introduce monumental elegance and a grounded detail to your interior with the stunning Picasso marble CONE side table. The sculptural geometric shape of this contemporary design piec...
Marble
$800Sale Price / item|47% Off
H 33.47 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Dining Chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, Model Razoblade, Denmark, Oak
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of striking dining chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, made of oak and honey coloured lambskin. Refreshing design with bold Baroque coming together nicely with Mid-Century Modernism. M...
Oak
$3,720Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 81.5 in W 42.13 in D 18.9 in
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Wall Units by William Watting for Scanflex, 1960s
By William Watting, ScanFlex
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Pair of Mid-Century Modern modular two-tone wall units or shelving units. Design by William Watting for ScanFlex Holland. Striking Danish/Dutch design from the 1960s. Both wall units...
Beech, Teak
$5,651
H 118.12 in W 28.75 in D 30.71 in
Osvaldo Borsani E22 Double Sided Freestanding Wall Unit for Tecno, Italy, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
This double-sided freestanding E22 bookcase is a rare and peculiar example of Borsani's innovative design and the Tecno manufacturing expertise. Its construction of metal, wood, and ...
Metal
$957 / item
H 20.88 in W 29.5 in D 10.25 in
Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Tangerine by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
By Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play...
Resin
Custom Round Mohair Velvet Ottoman with Oak Feet
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Round Ottoman Custom-made ottoman developed & produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials. These examples are upholstered in a mustar...
Oak, Mohair, Velvet
Geometric Mid Century Open Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Finished in Batavia Black with a Sandbar finish interior, this bookcase showcases rhythmic, crescent-shaped oval cut-outs that form an architectural silhouette—an homage to the sculp...
Wood
$33,000
H 102.76 in W 130.71 in D 13 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Large Architectural Library in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Library wall-unit, walnut, Italy, 1960s Rooted in Italy’s mid-century design tradition, this substantial bookcase highlights the makers architectural sensibility and refined taste f...
Walnut
$13,200Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 28 in W 164 in D 86 in
Wonderful Milo Baughman Circular Sofa Sectional Plinth
By Milo Baughman
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Wonderful Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin circular 2 piece sofa. Of course this will need to be reupholstered but who wants 60 year old fabric anyway! We imagine this done in an ul...
Upholstery, Walnut
$2,616Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 11.82 in Dm 21.66 in
Soda Blown Murano Glass Low Coffee Table in Petrol Green by Yiannis Ghikas
By Miniforms, Yiannis Ghikas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Soda was born upside-down, with a puff of air. It weighs 20 kilos, and it is blown, drawn out and shaped by three master glassmakers. The result is a single volume of glass with thre...
Blown Glass
$20,958
H 102.37 in W 94.49 in D 188.98 in
Kiosk K67 Double Yugokiosk by Saša Müchtig for Imgrad, 1988
Located in Radomsko, Województwo łódzkie
K67 is a kiosk design created in 1966 by the Slovenian architect and designer Saša J. Mächtig. Very good contition, preserved in its original form. 2 original canopies included. Weig...
Fiberglass
$3,650 / set
H 26.78 in W 35.44 in D 37.41 in
Italian Design UP1 Lounge Chairs by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, 2000s
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Renens, CH
UP1 Lounge Chairs, designed in 1969 by Gaetano Pesce for C&B Italia (now B&B Italia): These lounge chairs are known for their distinctive, sculptural round form, and due to their s...
Fabric, Foam
$2,300 / item
H 20.5 in W 14 in D 67 in
HIFI Vinyl LP Storage Bench / Record Shelf Mid-Century Modern Walnut Pete Deeble
By Pete Deeble
Located in Long Beach, CA
This bench is the ideal solution to having records sitting all over your house and no place to sit. This is an original design, but with a strong influence of Mid Century Danish Mode...
Walnut
$10,825 / set
H 28.75 in W 31.5 in D 34.65 in
Mario Bellini Bambole Chairs, Upholstered in Alpaca, B&B Italia, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A Mario Bellini Le Bambole pair of chairs, produced by B&B Italia, Italy in the 1970s, newly upholstered in luxurious 100% alpaca. Dims: H 73cm D 88cm W 80cm SH 40/41cm
Alpaca
Concrete Barchan Planter by OPIARY (L58", W32", H14")
By Robert Remer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opiary is a Brooklyn-based biophilic design and production studio. We integrate nature in each of our designs, incorporating live greenery and organic shapes into bespoke furniture, ...
Cement
$14,000Sale Price|60% Off
H 79.5 in W 84 in D 108.5 in
Vintage 1949 Mid-Century Modern Custom L-Shaped Office Desk by George Nelson
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Lafayette, IN
This remarkable piece is a one-off desk/wardrobe/bar/bookcase/storage cabinet custom-designed by George Nelson in 1949 to match his Basic Cabinet Series (BCS) for Herman Miller. The ...
Aluminum
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.