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 Midcentury Bücher- Wandregal Royal Systeme Cado5
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes großes Wandregal vom dänischen Traditionshersteller Cado aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Poul Cadovius entworfen und erla...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Midcentury Bücher- Wandregal Royal Systeme Cado2
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes großes Wandregal vom dänischen Traditionshersteller Cado aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Poul Cadovius entworfen und erla...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Midcentury Bücher- Wandregal Royal Systeme Cado4
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes großes Wandregal vom dänischen Traditionshersteller Cado aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Poul Cadovius entworfen und erla...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Midcentury Bücher- Wandregal Royal Systeme Cado6
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes großes Wandregal vom dänischen Traditionshersteller Cado aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Poul Cadovius entworfen und erla...
Teak
Original Midcentury Poul Cadovius Wandregal Royal Cado 1960 Teak5
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Wandregal "Royal System" von Poul Cadovius aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem besteht aus 3 Boden-/Deckenstangen, 8 höhenverstellbaren...
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
Poul Cadovius Midcentury Bücher- Wandregal Royal Systeme Cado1
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes großes Wandregal vom dänischen Traditionshersteller Cado aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Poul Cadovius entworfen und erla...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Midcentury Bücher- Wandregal Royal Systeme Cado3
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes großes Wandregal vom dänischen Traditionshersteller Cado aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Poul Cadovius entworfen und erla...
Teak
$1,866
H 10.24 in W 78.75 in D 7.88 in
Large Floating Teak Wall Mounted Shelf by Walter Wirtz for Wilhelm Renz, 1960s
By Wilhelm Renz, Walter Wirtz
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful floating wall unit designed by Walter Wirtz for Wilhelm Renz, Germany, 1960s. Very good condition, signed with Wilhelm Renz logo. This U-shaped shelf is made of high-qualit...
Teak
$2,650 / set
H 49.5 in W 73.5 in D 10 in
1960s Scandinavian Two Bay Wall Unit System Record Cabinet Cado Royal System
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Vintage Scandinavian Modern wall unit system 2 bay in walnut wood. Unmarked. Attribution Poul Cadovius for Roya...
Walnut
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
Danish Modern Teak Bookshelf Wall Unit
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish Modern Teak Bookshelf Wall Unit, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is a versatile size and can be used as a bookshelf, bar, media cabinet, vitrine...
Glass, Wood, 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
$968
H 11.82 in W 15.36 in D 13.39 in
Franco Albini Midcentury Wall Shelf in Curved Rattan and Bamboo, Italy 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous Mid-Century wall shelf in curved rattan and bamboo. This stylish organic shelf was designed by Franco Albini in Italy during the 1960s. In amazing conditions and with a cha...
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
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
Danish Mid-Century Teak Wall Mount Coat Rack with Shelf, 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wall mount coat rack from Denmark showcases the clean lines and functional beauty of Mid-Century Scandinavian design. Crafted in warm teak, the piece features thoughtful dual-level c...
Teak
Geraldo De Barros, Console, Wood, Brazil, 1970s
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in High Point, NC
A small wall-mounted console or wall shelf designed by Geraldo De Barros and produced by Hobjeto, Brazil, 1970s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 11.7...
Wood
$7,584
H 66.93 in W 94.49 in D 19.69 in
Vintage Cado Bookshelf, Teak Wood, Danish Design, 1960s, Modular Unit
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
Mid-Century Scandinavian Teak Wall Shelf, Sailboat Design, Denmark
Located in Miami, FL
A Mid-Century Scandinavian style sculpted teak wall shelf, made in Denmark. This interesting sail boat shaped wall shelf is great for a decorative item. Place your favorite vase,...
Teak
$980 / item
H 9.85 in W 18.51 in D 11.82 in
Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Wall Shelf, Franco Albini, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Extraordinary Mid-Century wall shelf in curved rattan, bamboo and wicker. This marvellous object was made in Italy in the 1960s and is attributed to the mastery of Franco Albini. Th...
Bamboo, Rattan, Cane, Wicker
Poul Cadovius Midcentury Bücher- Wandregal Royal Systeme Cado3
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes großes Wandregal vom dänischen Traditionshersteller Cado aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Poul Cadovius entworfen und erla...
Teak
Sold
H 63.78 in W 95.28 in D 15.75 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 one cabinet and 9 shelves This piece is completely adjustable, and any of the c...
Metal
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 Cado, Poul Cadovius
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 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 double cabinet with sliding doors, a cabinet with dropdown door and nine she...
Metal
Poul Cadovius Teak Wall Unit
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
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 Cado, Poul Cadovius
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 Cado, Poul Cadovius
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 Cado, Poul Cadovius
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