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.
Coffee Or Dining Table In Light Wood Designed by Paul Cadovius From 1960s
By Mogens Koch, Cado
Located in Lejre, DK
This dining table is a true gem of Danish furniture design and clearly bears the stamp of Paul Cadovius' unique vision and talent. Manufactured by the renowned company Cado in the 19...
Wood
$7,600 / item
H 16 in Dm 36 in
Carlton Coffee Table 36" DIA, in Vintage Burl Wood Finish by August Abode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Figural woods and casual, clean lines combine in our Carlton Table, shown here in our Vintage Burl Wood finish. Dimensions: 16" H x 36" DIA About this...
Wood, Ash, Olive, Burl
Dining Table, Designed by Mogens Kold, Denmark, 1960s
By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik
Located in Stockholm, SE
Dining table, designed by Mogens Kold, Denmark. 1960’s. Brazilian rosewood. Measurements: Height: 73 cm/ 28 3/4'' Length when closed: 135 cm/ 53''. Two extension leaves at 45 cm/ 1...
Rosewood
$8,600 / item
H 15 in Dm 40 in
Carlton Coffee Table 40" DIA, in Vintage Burl Wood Finish, by August Abode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Figural woods and casual, clean lines combine in our Carlton Table, shown here in our Vintage Burlwood finish. Also available in Natural Burlwood and Map...
Wood, Ash, Olive, Burl
Carlton Coffee Table 36" DIA, in Natural Burl Wood, by August Abode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Figural woods and casual, clean lines combine in our Carlton Table, shown here in our Natural Burl Wood finish. It is also available in Mappa and Vintage...
Wood, Ash, Olive, Burl
$4,400
H 19.3 in Dm 47.05 in
Poul Cadovius Rosewood Coffee Table Designed For France & Son Circular 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Poul Cadovius Beautiful Rosewood Coffee Table Designed For France & Son Circular Top Inlaid With Brushed Chrome Floral Decoration Made In Denmark 1960's Poul Cadovius (1911 - 2011) was one of the most colourful and successful persons in the history of Danish furniture industry. He was originally educated as an upholsterer but became very interested in design at an early stage, and in 1945 he established his own furniture manufacturing company Royal System. A few years later, in 1948, he designed the iconic shelving system ROYAL...
Steel
Very Rare Dining or Coffee Table T41 by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Munich, DE
For tecno/ Italy. Wonderful height adjustable table. Can be used in every high between 50 and 77cm. Remarkable table top with amazing veneer.
Wood
$9,540Sale Price|40% Off
H 15 in W 78 in D 38 in
Andrianna Shamaris Live Edge Petrified Wood Coffee Table or Dining Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Impressive two inch thick high quality petrified wood live edge dining table or coffee table. Three slabs from the same petrified wood log are joined together. The live edge varies f...
Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood, Petrified Wood
1960's Scandinavian Adjustable Coffee/Dining Table
Located in Paris, FR
A masterfully restored 20th-century vintage Scandinavian adjustable coffee to dining table. The tabletop is composed of re-finished teak wood an...
Steel
vintage coffee table dining table adjustable 1960s
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage coffee table dining table adjustable 1960s Swedish coffee table that is adjustable to a dining table. period 1960s design unknown Sweden condition good minor signs...
Teak
Rosewood dining table, Danish design, 1960s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Rosewood dining table, Danish design, 1960s. Beautifully grained rosewood veneered top. The table has two inserts, so you can extend it to larger sizes if needed. Simple, timeless f...
Rosewood
$2,145
H 15.56 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Scandinavian Modern Square Rosewood Coffee or Cocktail Table by Poul Cadovius
By France & Søn, Poul Cadovius
Located in London, GB
Scandinavian Modern Rosewood Table by Poul Cadovius – Timeless Design Introducing a timeless piece of Scandinavian Modern design, this exquisite table is a creation of renowned desi...
Rosewood
$2,062Sale Price|40% Off
H 21.26 in W 55.12 in D 23.23 in
1961 Harbo Sølvsten Solid Wood Coffee Table with tapered legs
Located in London, GB
1961 Harbo Sølvsten solid mahogany coffee table with tapered legs. H. 54. L. 140. W. 59 cm. Purchased by present owner's grandparents in 1961 from interior designer Harbo Sølvsten, A...
Hardwood
Sold
H 27.56 in Dm 46.46 in
Danish Vintage Mygge Dining Table by Poul Cadovius and Bjorn Wiinblad for Cado
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Cado, Poul Cadovius, Susanne Fjedldoe Mygge
Located in London, GB
A stunning Danish vintage Mygge dining table by Poul Cadovius and Bjorn Wiinblad for Cado, dating from the 1960’s. This is a beautiful and iconic design, it is also very practical. ...
Steel
Danish Modern Cado Tulip Table
By Cado
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A Danish Modern tulip table made of aluminum and hand painted by Susanne Feljdose. Produced by Cado. Professional, skilled furniture restoration is an integral part of what we do...
Steel
Danish Rosewood Table by Cado Chrome with Tulip Base
By Cado
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Rosewood and polished aluminum dining table by Cado circa late 1960s. This example has stunning book matched rosewood that has been newly finished and the tulip base and trim have be...
Aluminum
Sold
H 28.35 in W 74.81 in D 37.41 in
1960s Finn Juhl Mahogany Dining or Conference Table, Diplomat Series - Cado
By Finn Juhl, Cado
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Finn Juhl mahogany dining or conference table from the diplomat series by Cado Finn Juhl designed a series of furniture´from 1961 called the Diplomat series with chairs, desks...
Mahogany
Björn Wiinblad, Poul Cadovius, Susanne Fjeldsoe Mygge Dining Table, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado, Susanne Fjedldoe Mygge
Located in Vienna, AT
Poul Cadovius / Mygge. Susanne Fjeldsøe Mygge. Circular tabletop with aluminum edge, decorated with the classic "Mygge" decoration, Bj...
Aluminum