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 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
$3,008Sale Price|20% Off
Mid century sideboard by Ditte and Adrian Heath for France & son, Denmark 1960s
By Ditte & Adrian Heath, Adrian Heath, Cado, France & Søn
Located in ECHT, NL
Mid century sideboard with sliding doors and 3 interior drawers. Designed by Ditte and Adrian Heath and produced by France & son (CADO) in the 1960s in Denmark. Made from solid oak...
Oak
$3,377 / set
H 78.75 in W 63 in D 14.97 in
Poul Cadovius, Teak Royal System, Scandinavian Midcentury, Denmark 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
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
$2,165
H 43.12 in W 64.97 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Danish Rosewood Sideboard by E.W. Bach for Sejling Skabe, 1960s.
By Sejling Skabe, E.W. Bach
Located in Asaa, DK
Mid-Century Danish Rosewood Sideboard by EW Bach for Sejling Skabe, 1960s. Very beautiful and impressive Danish Modern credenza with stunning Rosewood grain pattern. Exquisite craft...
Rosewood
Danish Brutalist Oak Sideboard by Danish Cabinetmaker, 1960s
Located in Rødding, DK
A sculptural oak sideboard in the Danish Brutalist tradition, handcrafted by a Danish cabinetmaker during the 1960s, showcasing richly figured solid oak, paneled doors, and architect...
Brass
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s
By Sibast, Arne Vodder
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Modern Low Rosewood sideboard, 1960s Beautiful Danish Modern low sideboard in minimalistic style attributed to Danish designer Arne Vodder for Sibast. Front with...
Rosewood
1960s wall shelf, Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic shelving system from the 1960s. The high-quality containers and shelves are veneered in teak. The system consists of nine shelves, a record container, and three wooden ladder...
Wood, Teak
$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 Poul Cadovius, Cado
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
$4,800
H 45.67 in W 81.5 in D 18.9 in
Henning Kjærnulf for EG Møbler, Solid Oak Sideboard, Danish Modern, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Arne Vodder, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
A beautiful mid-century sideboard designed by Henry Kjærnulf for EG Kvalitetsmøbel, crafted in solid oak during the 1960s–70s. This piece exemplifies the refined Scandinavian design ...
Oak
Danish Mid-Century Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s. Stunning Scandinavian Modern rosewood/palisander cabinet with vivid grain pattern. Double hinged doors with brass hinges and locks with...
Santos Rosewood
$3,667
H 40.16 in W 82.29 in D 19.49 in
Danish Mid-Century Brutalist Oak Sideboard by Henning Kjærnulf for EG, 1960s.
By Henning Kjærnulf, Nyrup Møbelfabrik
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Brutalist Oak Sideboard by Henning Kjærnulf for EG, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern tall sideboard in Nordic white oak attributed to designer Henning Kjærn...
Oak
$4,541Sale 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
$9,800
H 45.28 in W 79.53 in D 18.12 in
Sideboard in Oak & Brass by Henning Kjærnulf, Danish Mid Century Modern, 1960s
By Nyrup Møbelfabrik, Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant and well-proportioned oak sideboard with brass detailing by Henning (Henry) Kjærnulf for Nyrup Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s. A fine example of Danish Mid-Century Modern cra...
Brass
$10,362
H 98.43 in W 94.89 in D 19.3 in
1960s 1970s Rio Rosewood Shelving System by Poul Cadovius for Cado Denmark
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
1960s/70s Rio Rosewood Shelving System by Poul Cadovius for Cado Denmark Object: Shelving Unit Manufacturer: Cado Condition: Good Age: Circa 1960-1970 Dimensions: Width = 241cm...
Rosewood
Sold
H 16.74 in W 63 in D 15.75 in
Danish Modern Oak Floating Sideboard by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
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
Sold
H 20.48 in W 125.99 in D 18.12 in
Large Danish Sideboard by Poul Cadovius Rosewood Wall-Mounted 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Wall-mounted sideboard by Poul Cadovius from the 1960s. The sideboard consists of three cabinet modules and one drawer module and is veneered with high-quality rosewood. We have a CI...
Rosewood
Danish Sideboard by Poul Cadovius Rosewood Wall-Mounted 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Wall-mounted sideboard by Poul Cadovius from the 1960s. The sideboard consists of three cabinet modules and is veneered with high-quality rosewood. We have a CITES sales permit for t...
Rosewood
Sold
H 25.2 in W 31.5 in D 14.97 in
Small Danish Modern Rosewood Sideboard by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Small Danish Modern Rosewood Sideboard by Poul Cadovius for Cado, Denmark, 1960s. Vintage Danish Rosewood sideboard with sliding doors and one adjustable shelf inside. Beautiful Ros...
Rosewood
Sold
H 25.2 in W 31.5 in D 14.97 in
Small Danish Modern Rosewood Sideboard by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Small Danish Modern Rosewood Sideboard by Poul Cadovius for Cado, Denmark, 1960s. Vintage Danish Rosewood sideboard with sliding doors and one adjustable shelf inside. Stunning Rose...
Rosewood
Sold
H 79.53 in W 127.56 in D 16.15 in
Danish Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, Denmark, 1960s Danish Wall Unit
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Ranst, VAN
Danish modular wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado. This teak setup has three storage cabinets, one display cabinet and nine bookshelves. Alwa...
Glass, Teak
Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, Denmark 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Ranst, VAN
Danish wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius for CADO, Denmark. This setup is in rosewood and has four storage cabinets, one bar cabinet, two display cabinets, one display shelf and se...
Wood, Rosewood
Sold
H 16.74 in W 127.37 in D 15.75 in
Vintage Danish Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish rosewood modular wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s Mid-Century Modern 4 bay shelving system model Cado. This is a original vintage floating bookcase...
Rosewood
Sold
H 78.75 in W 157.49 in D 16.15 in
Poul Cadovius Cado Royal System Wall Unit Shelving Bookcase 1960s 1970s in Teak
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Markington, GB
A wonderful large 5 Bay mid century Danish vintage PS wall unit in teak, this dates from the 1960s. The condition is excellent for its age, little wear to be seen, the teak has a stu...
Teak
Small Danish Two-Door Teak Cabinet by Poul Cadovius (Cado)
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Peabody, MA
Compact Danish teak two-door chest by Poul Cadovius ca. 1960s. From a modular wall-mounted Cado system, fitted for use with with original Cado base (a cataloged option). Base is r...
Metal