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.
Senator Lounge Chairs by Ole Wanscher for Cado, Danish Teak, 1960s, Set of 2
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
A beautifully proportioned pair of vintage Senator armchairs by Ole Wanscher for Cado, made in Denmark. These chairs are a strong example of Wanscher’s refined Danish modern language...
Fabric, Textile, Teak
Set of Four Steen Østergaard Dining Chairs A-Line 290, CADO, Denmark, 1960s.
By Cado, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type - stackable - marked - space age era
Faux Leather, Plastic
Mogens Koch MK16 Folding Safari Chair for Cado, Denmark
By Mogens Koch, Cado
Located in Barcelona, ES
MK16 folding Safari chair designed in 1932 by Mogens Koch and produced in 1960's by Cado, Denmark. Stained beech wood, leather, brass and new canvas upholstery.
Brass
Ole Wanscher, set of 6 Danish leather and Mahogany dining chairs for CADO, 1960s
By Cado, Ole Wanscher
Located in Uppsala, SE
Set of 6 leather and Mahogany dining chairs designed by Danish designer Ole Wanscher for CADO in the 1960s. The set contains of 2 armchairs and 4 normal chairs. Newly upholstered sea...
Leather, Mahogany
Three-seater sofa with teak frame and brown leather upholstery - Cado-
By Cado
Located in Madrid, España
Three-seater sofa with teak frame and brown leather upholstery - Arne Vodder - Cado - c. 1970 - Denmark Dimensions: 77 x 200 x 80 cm
Leather, Teak
Mid-Century Three Seat Sofa Senator, Danish Design Teak Couch by Ole Wanscher
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in München, Bavaria
Dimensions: 182 x 75 x 80 cm (Width x Height x Depth) This Mid Century three seat sofa was designed by Ole Wanscher for the Sentator Series for France and Son in the 1950s. This mod...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
Vintage Senator Two-Seater Sofa by Ole Wanscher for Cado, Danish Teak, 1960s
By Cado, Ole Wanscher
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
A beautifully proportioned vintage Senator two-seater sofa by Ole Wanscher for Cado, made in Denmark and rooted in the quiet refinement that defines Wanscher’s work so well. The Sena...
Fabric, Textile, Wood, Teak
Set of Six Ole Wanscher Dining Chairs for CADO, Denmark 1960s
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in Utrecht, NL
Ole Wanscher was a leading figure in Danish and Scandinavian design, as was his mentor, the legendary Kaare Klint, renowned to be the “father” of modern Danish furniture design. Toge...
Fabric, Wood
Finn Juhl FD 112 Armchair Lounge, Rosewood, Cado, France & Søn, 1960s, Denmark
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn, Cado
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Finn Juhl FD 112 Armchair Lounge, Rosewood, Cado, France & Søn, 1960s, Denmark. Arms are removable. You can use as armless lounge as well. (See final pho...
Textile, Rosewood
Ole Wanscher Lounge Chair by Cado, Teak & Cognac Leather, 1960s
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ole Wanscher lounge new upholstered with cognac pure aniline leather Made of solid teak. Model senator, made by Cado.
Teak, Leather
Ole Wanscher Senator Sofa by Cado, Teak Frame & Aniline Leather
By Cado, Ole Wanscher
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ole Wanscher three-seat sofa new upholstered with vintage aniline leather. Made of solid teak. Model senator, made by Cado.
Leather, Teak
1960s Steen Ostergaard 'President' Fiberglass Lounge Chair for Cado, Denmark
By Cado, Ostergaard Steen
Located in Praha, CZ
- good (repolished ) original condition with minor signs of use - The fabric in good original condition
Fabric, Wood, Oak
Ole Wanscher Senator Sofa, Teak Frame, Tan Leather, Denmark, 1960s
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ole Wanscher three-seat sofa new upholstered with tan aniline leather. Made of solid teak. Model senator, made by Cado.
Leather, Teak
Mogens Koch MK-16 Folding Chair in Beech Wood with Canvas for Interna and Cado
By Cado, Mogens Koch, Interna
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Set of 4 folding chairs (model MK-16), designed by Mogens Koch in the 1930s. These early examples were manufactured by Cado and Interna (signed with label) and feature a beech frame ...
Brass
Set of 2 Moduline chairs by Ole Gjerløv Knudsen and Torben Lind for Cado, 1960s
By Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen and Torben Lind, Cado
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Set of 2 Moduline chairs by Ole Gjerløv Knudsen and Torben Lind for Cado, 1960s Denmark. The “Moduline” series was like the name suggests a modular syst...
Faux Leather, Wood
1960s Fully Restored Customizable Danish Ole Wanscher Sofa by Cado
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s fully restored customizable Danish Ole Wanscher sofa by Cado The elegant light Ole Wanscher design of the sofa feature organic elegant shapes and lines, combined with very ex...
Teak
Finn Juhl FD 112 Lounge Chair, Rosewood, Cado, France & Søn, 1960s, Denmark
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl, Cado
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Finn Juhl FD 112 Lounge Chair, Rosewood, Cado, France & Søn, 1960s, Denmark. Gorgeous rosewood base. maker's label underside: "Cado Made in Denmark 7416...
Textile, Rosewood
1970s, Danish design by Arne Vodder for Cado Denmark, 3 seater sofa.
By Cado, Arne Vodder
Located in Tarm, 82
1970s, Danish design by Arne Vodder for Cado Denmark. 3 seater sofa, furniture wool, dark exotic/teak wood. Loose cushions. Original very good condition: no smells and no stains.
Wool, Teak
Steen Ostergaard Model 290 Pair of Red Chair for Cado, 1970
By Cado, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Steen Ostergaard model 290 red plastic stacking chairs manufactured by Cado, 1970. Set of 2. With some scratches and marks.
Plastic
Vintage Senator Lounge Chair by Ole Wanscher for Cado, Danish Teak, 1960s
By Cado, Ole Wanscher
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
A beautifully proportioned vintage Senator armchair by Ole Wanscher for Cado, made in Denmark. This chair is a strong example of Wanscher’s refined Danish modern language: an elegant...
Fabric, Textile, Wood, Teak
Set of 4 MK16 Folding Safari Chairs by Mogens Koch for Cado, Denmark
By Mogens Koch, Cado
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 MK16 folding Safari chairs designed in 1932 by Mogens Koch and produced in 1960's by Cado, Denmark. Stained beech wood, leather, brass and new canvas upholstery.
Brass
Ole Gjerlov Knudsen for Cado Saw chair 1960 Denmark
By Cado, Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen
Located in Den Haag, NL
Saw chair designed by Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen. 1958 Denmark. Birch wooden frame. Four parts sliding in each other. The seating angle can be changed by adjusting the parts more forward or...
Canvas
Vintage Mahogany Senator High Back Lounge Chair by Ole Wanscher for Cado, 1960s
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
This Danish mid-century modern high-back lounge chair is a must for those seeking that classic Scandinavian design. Elegant and beautifully sculpted, Ole Wanscher captured that refi...
Fabric, Mahogany
France and Son Cado Sofa Model 56 by Grete Jalk Teak Wood Grey Upholstered 1960s
By Cado, Grete Jalk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Model 56 three-seater couch features an elegant open frame with softly curved armrests and an angled back profile. The clean lines highlight exceptional Scandinavian craftsmansh...
Teak
Finn Juhl Set of Two Fully Restored Armchairs Including Custom Upholstery Cado
By Finn Juhl, Cado
Located in Knebel, DK
Finn Juhl set of two fully restored armchairs including custom upholstery The chairs were designed in 1963 for France and Son that later changed their name to Cado as part of an of...
Leather, Teak, Fabric
Set of Lounge Chairs by Ole Wanscher in Sangria Leather, Denmark, C. 1960s
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in Westport, CT
An exquisite set of Scandinavian Modern lounge chairs by renowned Danish designer Ole Wanscher for Cado. Crafted from rich mahogany, these chairs exude sophistication and elegance. P...
Leather, Mahogany
Set of 10 Danish Mid Century Modern Cado Dining Chairs Wool Upholstery Denmark
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Set of 10 Danish Mid Century Modern Cado Dining Chairs Wool Upholstery Denmark
Wool, Chestnut
1960s Finn Juhl Model 209 Diplomat Chair in Mahogany and Brown Leather - Cado
By Cado, Finn Juhl
Located in Knebel, DK
Finn Juhl designed the model 209 chairs in 1961. The chair is part of a series of furniture named the Diplomat series with chairs, desks, tables, cabinets and other furniture. The c...
Leather, Mahogany
Coppia di poltrone Senator di Ole Wanscher per Cado
By Ole Wanscher, Cado
Located in Brescia, IT
Coppia di poltrone Senator di Ole Wanscher per Cado. Refined pair of Senator model armchairs designed by Ole Wanscher for Cado in the 1960s. Realizzate in teak massello, presentano ...
Fabric, Teak
Rare Danish teak lounge chair/ Easy chair by Grete Jalk For Cado , 1960s
By Cado, Grete Jalk
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Mid-century Rare Danish teak lounge chair/ Easy chair by Grete Jalk For Cado , 1960s Design year: 1960s Style: vintage, Danish modern Designed by: Grete Jalk For Cado Matching...
Fabric, Teak