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.
Scandinavian rosewood wall cabinet by Poul Cadovius, 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in MONTESSON, FR
Scandinavian wall cabinet designed by Poul Cadovius and produced by Cado. It is made of Rio rosewood. This piece of furniture, from the 1960s, is in good original condition. It has 2...
Glass, Rosewood
$3,384 / set
H 78.75 in W 63 in D 14.97 in
Poul Cadovius, Teak Royal System, Scandinavian Midcentury, Denmark 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Göteborg, SE
Poul Cadovius designed the Royal System shelving system in 1948. It was one of the world's first shelves that hung on the wall, freeing up floor space. The shelving system quickly be...
Metal
$1,264Sale Price|20% Off
H 18 in W 30 in D 16 in
Poul Cadovius Cado Teak Wall Shelf Units, 'Three Pieces'
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three Poul Cado wall units. One is a three drawer cabinet measures - 30"W x 16"D x 18"H One drop down bar cabinet measures - 30"W x 14.5"Dx16H ...
Teak
Poul Cadovius hanging Royal Wall System 1950s Denmark
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Den Haag, NL
For sale this iconic Royal System by Poul Cadovius 1950s in the rare African Bonkonko Wood Beautiful warm light color . 4 uprights 2 Cabinets 12 shelves ....
Wood
$3,676
H 78.94 in W 96.07 in D 15.95 in
Danish Modern 3-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern 3-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 3 bay shelving system model Royal. This is an original vintage floating bookcase desi...
Teak
$2,390
H 30 in W 36 in D 18 in
Stunning Brazilian Rosewood Cabinet made in Denmark attrib. to Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Danish Modernist Rosewood cabinet with stunning book-matched doors revealing an interior of mahogany with adjustable shelf. Minimal design with mitered corners and unusual al...
Aluminum
$1,634
H 16.74 in W 63 in D 15.75 in
Danish Modern Oak Floating Sideboard by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Oak Floating Sideboard by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 2 bay wall unit model Cado with back panels. This is a original vintage floatin...
Oak
$7,902 / set
H 78.75 in W 127.96 in D 15.75 in
Poul Cadovius Vintage 1960s Royal Teak Wall System with 4 Cabinets
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Den Haag, NL
Look at this stunning hanging Wall System . Super warm Teak Color . Iconic design by Poul Cadovius . Signed . 4 Cabinets . One rare high Cabinet . comes with two Thick Glass shelves...
Teak
$4,551Sale Price|40% Off
H 73.04 in W 93.71 in D 16.54 in
1960s Poul Cadovius for Cado 3-Bay Rosewood Wall Unit
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Poul Cadovius for Cado 3-bay rosewood wall unit manufactored by Cado We are selling this rosewood wall unit as is for a client who has owned it for many years but no longer ha...
Rosewood
$6,200
H 72 in W 95 in D 20 in
Poul Cadovius "CADO" 3-bay Rosewood Modular Shelf System Wall Unit Denmark 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning "CADO" 3-bay Rosewood Modular Shelf System Wall Unit designed by Poul Cadovius ,made in Denmark consisting of 4 modular cabinets and 10 adjustable shelves which can be arran...
Rosewood
$7,800 / set
H 80 in W 95 in D 21.25 in
Poul Cadovius for Cado Rosewood 3 Bay Danish Modern Shelving Unit
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in New Windsor, NY
Rosewood three bay modular shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius for Cado. Circa 1968. The Cado System is comprised of 26 separate parts: four wall mounted brackets, 12 shelf supports, three cabinets and seven shelves. There are two drop front cabinets, one for records which includes wire partitions and the other has a mirrored back with white laminate tops and the largest has two doors with a sliding surface for a stereo turntable...
Metal, Brass
$1,867
H 77.96 in W 31.5 in D 18.9 in
Danish Modern 1-Bay Walnut Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern 1-Bay Walnut Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 1 bay shelving system model Cado with back panel. This is a original vi...
Walnut
Danish Modular Wall System by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Beerse, VAN
Danish modular wall system, designed by Poul Cadovius in the 1950s. It’s made of teak wood and designed to be mounted directly to the wall. Such systems became popular in the 1950s...
Teak
Sold
H 27.96 in W 31.5 in D 18.12 in
Pair of Danish Vintage Teak Cabinets / Sideboard by Poul Cadovius
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in London, GB
A stunning pair of Danish vintage teak cabinets / sideboard by Poul Cadovius. They date from the 1960’s, they were designed by Poul Cadovius and made in Denmark by his company, Cado....
Teak
Pair of Danish Vintage Side Cabinets by Poul Cadovius
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in London, GB
A stunning pair of Danish vintage side cabinets by Poul Cadovius. These were made in Denmark in the 1960’s, they were made by Cado. They are of absolutely amazing quality, with a go...
Wood
Danish Modern Teak Cabinet by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Teak Cabinet by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Vintage Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern teak sideboard with double sliding doors. Standing on four original and rare Cado...
Teak
1960’s Vintage Danish Cabinet by Poul Cadovius
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in London, GB
A superb vintage Danish cabinet on legs. This was designed by Poul Cadovius and was made in Denmark by Cado, it dates from the 1960’s. The quality is outstanding, this is so well ma...
Wood
Poul Cadovius Danish Brazilian Rosewood Cabinet
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Oakland, CA
Poul Cadovius Rosewood cabinet with book-matched sliding doors revealing an interior of mahogany with adjustable shelves and small drawer. Minimal design with mitered corners and han...
Rosewood
Danish Modern Brazilian Rosewood Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Exceptional Danish modern Brazilian rosewood wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado in Denmark, circa 1960s. This wall unit has been construc...
Rosewood
Sold
H 27.56 in W 31.5 in D 18.12 in
Pair of 1960s Vintage Danish Rosewood Poul Cadovius Cabinets for Cado
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in London, England
A wonderful pair of 1960s Danish Rosewood cabinets, small sideboards or cupboards designed by Poul Cadovius for Cado. The cabinets have been fully restored to enhance the beautiful veneered rosewood grain with matching interiors. A single shelf sits in the centre of each one. The cabinets sit on four tapered legs with a wooden stretcher between them as additional support. The cabinets are a great size for use as living room side cabinets perhaps to place a television on top of or as large bedside...
Rosewood
Sold
H 78.75 in W 31.5 in D 18.9 in
1960s Danish Rosewood Veneer Wall Unit Bookcase by Poul Cadovius for Cado
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in London, England
A well-sized, multi-functional Rosewood veneered, single wall-hung unit by Poul Cadovius for CADO. - Royal System Shelving Unit. The wall unit dates from the 1960s and is in very...
Brass
Sold
H 79.73 in W 94.49 in D 18.12 in
Poul Cadovius Danish Midcentury Floating Royal System Wall Unit and Shelving
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Highclere, Newbury
A Danish Mid-Century Modern rosewood Royal System floating wall and shelving set designed by Poul Cadovius for Cado. This is a very adaptable set as it comprises 4 wall support ‘strings’ so you can either spread the units and shelves out over a larger space with 4 strings (at 240cm wide), or if you have a smaller space, you can use 3 strings for a more compact arrangement (at 160cm wide). This set dates from the early 1960s and is in very good vintage condition with just a few marks here and there commensurate with age. It features beautifully figured wood grain and comprises a drinks cabinet with two integral draws, the original wine rack and original heart shaped Cado key, plus a writing desk with a hinged top and a storage cabinet with sliding doors...
Rosewood
Cadovius Wall Unit 'Royal' Series in Teak - Denmark, 1950s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Beautiful Royal series wall unit by Poul Cadovius with much wanted angled lecture shelve. In a beautiful warm wood color and in good condition. The system is modular so it can be arr...
Metal
Sold
H 70.87 in W 127.96 in L 70.87 in
Royal Series Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius in Teak, Denmark, 1950s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Beautiful Royal series wall unit by Poul Cadovius with much wanted angled lecture shelve. In a beautiful warm wood color and in good condition. The system is modular so it can be arr...
Metal
Sold
H 70.87 in W 127.96 in D 14.97 in
Royal Series Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius in Teak, Denmark, 1950s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Beautiful Royal series wall unit by Poul Cadovius with much wanted angled lecture shelve. In a beautiful warm wood color and in good condition. The system is modular so it can be arr...
Metal