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.
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains one cabinet with drawers and 7 shelves This piece is completely adjustable, and...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains one cabinet and 9 shelves This piece is completely adjustable, and any of the c...
Metal
Danish Modern Teak & Glass Shelving System Abstracta by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Odense, DK
Ingenious minimalist shelving or display unit SYSTEM ABSTRACTA designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, in the 1960s. The system consists of black metal...
Metal
1958 Danish Teak Royal Cado Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly versatile and functional Cado wall unit in walnut by Danish designer Poul Cadovius. We currently have many different Cado pieces in stock and can customize your order to include the type and number of pieces you need. We have both the Royal System and the Cado systems...
Teak
Kai Kristiansen Shelf System FM Denmark 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Handewitt, DE
Kai Kristiansen shelf system in teak. Manufactured by FM Feldballes Møbelfabrik Denmark in 1960s. The wall unit consists of: - 8 shelves - 2 cabinets - 3 wall brackets detailed meas...
Teak
$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
Vintage Bookshelf "Cado" by Paul Cadovius, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage bookshelf "cado" is an original design item realized by Paul Cadovius, Denmark, in 1960s. Wall unit in teak structure. Five different cabintes ...
Wood
$8,918 / set
H 120.87 in W 79.53 in D 12.8 in
Large 1950s Italian Mid Century Teak Maple Freestanding Shelving System 18 Piece
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Recently imported from Italy, this is a good example of post war Italian Avant Garde design. Measuring an impressive 3-metres from floor to ceiling – a common height in Italian apartments – with opportunity to arrange the shelves to suit. This impressive freestanding storage...
Brass
$4,950
H 58 in W 126.5 in D 28.5 in
Five Bay Teak Wall Mounted Shelving (w/ Corner) Unit By Torbjorn Afdal C. 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado, Bruksbo, Torbjørn Afdal
Located in Peabody, MA
Midcentury "Cado " style wall-mounted shelving unit in teak, circa 1960s, from the "Veggen de Luxe" line, designed by Torbjorn Afdal and Rolf Hesland, made in Norway by Ringerike Mobel in collaboration with Bruskbo. Five bay unit consists of a corner section with work desk, a cabinet with four drawers and interior LP record storage...
Teak
$4,250
H 57.75 in W 106 in D 16 in
Three-Bay Teak Wall Mounted Shelving Unit By Torbjorn Afdal C. 1960s
By Cado, Torbjørn Afdal, Bruskbo, Poul Cadovius
Located in Peabody, MA
Midcentury "Cado" style wall-mounted shelving unit in teak, circa 1960s, from the "Veggen de Luxe" line, designed by Torbjorn Afdal and Rolf Hesland, made in Norway by Ringerike Mobe...
Teak
$5,900
H 95.5 in W 65.5 in D 21 in
Mid Century Omni Wood Modular Wall Unit Shelving & Bookcase by George Nelson
By George Nelson
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage mid century modern Omni wall unit shelving system designed by George Nelson is circa 1960. This ingenious shelving system features spring-loaded floor to ceiling aluminu...
Metal, Aluminum
Mid-century Walnut Wall Unit in the style of Poul Cadovius, c. 1960
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A classic mid-century wall unit with four wall mounted upright rails where four short and two long adjustable shelves sit on the patinated metal rungs. Additionally, this unit includ...
Walnut
$3,530Sale Price|20% Off
H 71.86 in W 70.87 in D 19.69 in
Mid Century Wall Unit Cabinet by Nils Jonsson for Troeds
By Nils Jonsson, Troeds Bjarnum 1
Located in Mortsel, BE
Very nice wall cabinet, some wear and tear see pictures please
Wood, Rosewood
$29,187
H 17.72 in W 112.21 in D 14.97 in
Florence Knoll Sideboard Wall Bar Unit Teak 1954 Knoll International Mid Century
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Munster, NRW
Wall mounted sideboard unit by Florence Knoll, made by Knoll International, Stuttgart in 1954. Rare opportunity to acquire an original Knoll Internat...
Teak
$4,810
H 90.5 in W 27.5 in D 10 in
Contemporary Asymmetrical Bookcase with Teak Wall Panel and Aluminum Shelving
By Tisettanta
Located in Chicago, IL
Bookcase unit to be horizontally or vertically positioned. Shelves in aluminium varnished folded sheet metal. Back panel in teak wood. Designed by Giuseppe Vigano for Tisettanta ...
Aluminum
Large vintage wall system by Poul Cadovius for Cado Denmark
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Breda, NB
Large vintage wall system by Poul Cadovius for Cado Denmark. This impressive vintage wall system by Poul Cadovius for Cado Denmark is an iconic piece of Danish design from the 1960s...
Teak
Sold
H 70.08 in W 95.28 in D 14.77 in
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains two cabinets one with sliding doors a cabinet with drawers and 11 shelves This ...
Metal
Sold
H 79.53 in W 95.28 in D 15.75 in
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains one double cabinet with sliding doors, a cabinet with dropdown door and nine she...
Metal
Poul Cadovius Teak Wall Unit
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Cambridge, US
Denmark, ca. 1960s. A handsome and supremely functional CADO System - or “System CADO” as it was originally called - by Poul Cadovius. Features high quality teak construction with two wall-mounted bays - each consisting of various modular storage components. This example, which can easily be reconfigured to suit one’s needs and imagination includes the following: 1 floating writing surface with two drawers. 1 display cabinet with sliding glass doors and glass shelves...
Teak
Sold
H 79.53 in W 95.28 in D 15.75 in
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains 8 shelves, six are 20cm deep one is 30cm and one is 40cm, two drawer cabinets dr...
Metal
Freestanding Shelving Unit by Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1950s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
This elegant freestanding shelving unit by Vittorio Dassi, designed in the 1950s, is a perfect combination of style and functionality. With its lightweight design, it is easy to move...
Brass
Sold
H 49.22 in W 64.57 in D 11.82 in
Poul Cadovius Royal System Danish Modern Birch wood Wall Unit Shelving, 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains of 4 shelves and one cabinet with sliding doors. This piece is completely adju...
Brass
Sold
H 79.93 in W 64.97 in D 11.82 in
Poul Cadovius Royal System Danish Modern Teak Wall Unit Shelving, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
This stunning Danish modern wall unit, designed by Poul Cadovius in the 1960s, showcases timeless Scandinavian design and functionality. The piece features 7 adjustable shelves and a...
Brass
Sold
H 78.75 in W 127.96 in D 15.75 in
Poul Cadovius XXL Royal System Danish Modern Teak Wall Unit Shelving, 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains of 14 shelves, one cabinets with sliding doors and one with drawers. This piec...
Brass
Sold
H 49.22 in W 64.97 in D 11.82 in
Poul Cadovius Royal System Danish Modern Teak Wall Unit Shelving, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains of 6 shelves and one cabinet with sliding doors. This piece is completely adju...
Brass
Sold
H 77.56 in W 64.97 in D 11.82 in
Poul Cadovius Royal System Danish Modern Teak Wall Unit Shelving, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains of 10 shelves and one cabinet with 2 drawers. This piece is completely adjusta...
Brass
Sold
H 88.19 in W 95.28 in D 14.97 in
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains 7 shelves and one sliding door cabinet, a drawer cabinet and a display cabinet....
Metal