While Danish furniture company Cado is popular among collectors of Scandinavian modern furniture for its well-crafted chairs, sofas, coffee tables and dining tables, the brand is best known for its sculptural wall shelving systems created by renowned Danish designer Poul Cadovius (1911–2011), Cado's founder.
The Copenhagen-born Cadovius initially studied to be an upholsterer and saddler before pursuing furniture design. He began his career in the 1940s making Venetian blinds and other window treatments before shifting his focus toward designing versatile furnishings that could be adapted to all sorts of interior spaces.
In 1945, Cadovius founded the furniture manufacturer Royal System intending to produce his designs for postwar homeowners. His visionary works included 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. The wall unit was practical and functional, but it was also decorative, made of rich and exotic woods like walnut, rosewood and teak, a favorite wood of Cadovius’s and a highly sought-after material among mid-century modern designers.
Cadovius established Cado in the late 1950s. The manufacturer followed the Royal System shelving unit with several other modular storage designs including the System Ultra in 1957, System Cado in 1960 and System Abstracta in 1962. Two years later, with more than 400 patents to his name, Cadovius purchased premier Danish furniture manufacturer France & Søn and incorporated it into Cado.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Cado collaborated with influential Danish and European designers of the era such as Steen Østergaard, best known for his stackable Cado 290, a Space Age fiberglass-and-polyamide nylon lounge chair; Finn Juhl, a stylistic maverick who embraced expressive, free-flowing shapes in chair and sofa designs much earlier than his colleagues; and Ole Wanscher, who drew on Shaker furniture and Chippendale forms and created the widely loved Colonial chair and coffee table for P. Jeppesens Møbelfabrik.
Cadovius’s designs — as well as the other works manufactured by Cado — are widely coveted by vintage furniture enthusiasts all over the world. In 2018, the Danish brand dk3 reissued the Royal System as well as a more compact version.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Cado case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and tables.
Danish Shelf Lamp by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Shelf Lamp by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Original Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern lighting Model RS 80 designed for Cado Shelving Systems Den...
Metal
Set Wall Lights by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Antwerp, BE
A set of white and pink PH hat wall lamp designed by Poul Henningsen in the late 1970s and manufactured by Louis Poulsen in Denmark. Both labeled with paper-stickers from Louis Poulsen.
Metal
$2,600 / set
H 13.78 in Dm 5.91 in
Scandinavian Modern Pine wood Wall lamps by Ib Fabiansen, 1960s, Denmark
By Fog & Mørup, Ib Fabiansen, Fog and Morup
Located in Værløse, DK
Set of Scandinavian Modern Pine Wood Wall Lamps designed by Ib Fabiansen for for Fog & Morup in the 1960s. An impressive due for an exquisite place. * A pair (2) of wall lamps made...
Fabric, Pine
Wall lamps designed by Flavio Poli for Seguso 1960s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Set of 2 wall sconces designed by Flavio Poli for Seguso in the 1960s, chromed brass structure, colored yellow glass. Excellent conditions, perfectly working. Born in Venice in 1900...
Brass
Pair of Midcentury Copper Wall Lamps, Denmark, 1960s
By Jo Hammerborg, Fog & Mørup
Located in Praha, CZ
very rare type nice style of lighting.
Copper
$1,120Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 7 in Dm 12 in
Danish Modern PH-Hat Pair Sconces by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, 1960s
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Miami, FL
The PH-Hat sconce by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark in 12 inches diameter size. An articulated shaded wall light, modern and fun for added or accent lighting. Also great for bedside lighting. Pale pink inside and white outside. Rewired with UL cord and plug for US. Price is for the pair. Larger: 12" diameter x 7" deep - Takes a 75 W max medium base bulb - Pair $1400. There is one extra single available in size, 12" Single - must email us to make new listing...
Metal
Wall Lamps By Sergio Mazza for Artemide, Italy 1960s
By Sergio Mazza, Artemide
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of Sergio Mazza 'Pi' wall lamps for Artemide. In nickel-plated brass, black-painted metal, and frosted glass.
Aluminum, Nickel
$1,004 / set
H 3.94 in W 6.7 in D 3.55 in
Scone 7013 wall lamps by J. Hoogervorst for Anvia Almelo, 1960s
By J. J. M. Hoogervorst, Anvia
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice set off Metal Wall Lamps . Where often used as bed lamps . Now the look great everywhere . Triangle shaped . simple Design by J. J. M. Hoogervorst for Anvia Almelo Hollan...
Metal
Pusicona lamp by Franco Milletti for Artemide, 1960s
By Artemide
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Very rare Pusicona Wall Lamp designed by Franco Micolitti for Artemide. Made ouf of chromed metal and a white glass globe. The lamp shade's height can be adjusted. 1960s - Itay ...
Chrome
PH80 Table Lamp by Poul Henningsen, Denmark, 1960s
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Chorzów, PL
The iconic PH80 table lamp with a white acrylic glass shade, manufactured by Louis Poulsen. Design: Poul Henningsen Very good condition, no damage. ...
Aluminum
$4,883
H 14.57 in Dm 13.39 in
Mid-Century Space Age Danish RS 37 Flower Lamp by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare flower lamp by the danish manufacturer cado after a design by poul cadovius from the 1960s. A simple and elegant design. The lamp consists of two half shells that are conn...
Metal
$585
H 5.12 in W 9.85 in D 8.67 in
Early PH Hat wall lamp by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark 1960's
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This stunning wall lamp, model PH Hat, was designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen in the 1960's. This is an early model with the original white painted steel fixture that has ...
Metal
Spider wall lamp by Joe Colombo for O Luce - 1960s
By Joe Colombo
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent "Spider" wall lamp designed by Joe Colombo for O Luce in the 1960s (1967). The lamp's round base attaches to the wall with a screw, then accommodates the chrome arm. At t...
Metal, Chrome