While Poul Cadovius is most famous for his modular floating shelving system, his career in design didn’t actually start with wall units.
Born just outside of Copenhagen in 1911, Cadovius began manufacturing window treatments in the 1940s with his partner, Hother Brønner. He soon turned his focus from Venetian blinds to furniture, finding success designing svelte pieces in teak, a richly colored hardwood favored by the Danish mid-century modernists.
In 1945, Cadovius founded the furniture manufacturer Royal System with his designs, including 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.
Cadovius followed the Royal System shelving unit with the System Ultra in 1957, the System Cado in 1960 and the System Abstracta, which was installed throughout the exhibition halls of the 1962 Cologne Furniture Fair. All expanded on his idea of wall-mounted shelving that saved space while offering functionality, allowing for limitless combinations of storage, shelves, work surfaces and other units. The Royal System proved to be especially popular and is still produced by Danish furniture brand dk3 today, with early models continuing to be in demand.
Along with the shelving systems, Cadovius designed everything from lounge chairs to mushroom-shaped bus shelters, and he held over 400 patents. In addition to being a designer, he was also an entrepreneur with an eye for opportunity, such as purchasing Danish manufacturer France & Søn in the mid-1960s and folded it into Cado, a company he founded years earlier. He used this as an occasion to experiment with his designs, conceiving such unusual pieces as an aluminum-based dining table topped with rosewood and hand-painted by artist Susan Fjedldoe Mygge.
Cadovius’s innovations in shelving continued throughout his career, with examples like the sculptural Butterfly shelf and vertical pieces mixing shelving and storage. In 2018, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Royal System, dk3 reissued the celebrated shelving system as well as a more compact version reimagined for 21st-century homes.
Find a collection of vintage Poul Cadovius storage cabinets, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid-Century Space Age Danish RS 37 Flower Lamp by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare flower lamp by the danish manufacturer cado after a design by poul cadovius from the 1960s. A simple and elegant design. The lamp consists of two half shells that are conn...
Metal
$2,425 / item
'CADOVIUS 900 LAMP', Golden Pendant Lamp by DK3
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
CADOVIUS 900 LAMP pendant lamp by DK3 Size : L: 123 / D: 27 / H: 25 cm Colors: Brass Materials : Aluminum anodized Steel wire: 400cm Light source: Max 40W E14 (220V – 240V / 50 Hz) Bulbs not included --- The 900·00 lamp, designed by Poul Cadovius in the early 1970’s. Many of his products, like the world-renowned shelving system ROYAL...
Aluminum
Poul Cadovius Danish MidCentury Nickel Plated Indoor Illuminated Hanging Planter
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century nickel plated aluminum hanging planter comprised of two semicircles connected by three hooked wires with a lighting fixture in the upper demi-dome (POUL CADOVIUS)
Aluminum
Mid-Century Danish Space Age RS 37 Flower Lamp by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare flower lamp by the danish manufacturer cado after a design by poul cadovius from the 60s. a simple and elegant design. The lamp consists of two half shells, which are conn...
Metal
Mid-Century Space Age Danish RS 37 Flower Lamp by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare flower lamp by the danish manufacturer cado after a design by poul cadovius from the 1960s. A simple and elegant design. The lamp consists of two half shells that are conn...
Metal
Danish Shelf Lamp by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Shelf Lamp by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Original Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern lighting Model RS 80 designed for Cado Shelving Systems Den...
Metal
Poul Henningsen Hanging Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Antwerp, BE
A vintage PH5 hanging lamp designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen. First manufactured in 1957 for Louis Poulsen, this striking vintage PH5 Pend...
Aluminum
$4,500
H 23.63 in Dm 17.72 in
Midcentury "Kontrast" Pendant by Poul Henningsen, Made in Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Lejre, DK
Contrast pendant in painted metal, designed in 1958 by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen Denmark. Great original condition.
Metal
$4,121
H 30.32 in Dm 14.77 in
Exceptional Mid-Century Modern Brass Kaiser 6-Arm Space Age Chandelier, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A midcentury Kaiser chandelier made in Germany in the 1960s. It is fascinating with its Space Age design and six opaline glass balls. The circular body of the light is made of polish...
Brass
Balloons Golden Pendant Lamp by Stillux
By Stillux
Located in Milan, IT
A subtly curved golden metal disk fitted to a white glass globe housing the light source marks the extraordinary grace of this pendant lamp. Descending from a coordinated round ceili...
Metal
Set Wall Lights by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Antwerp, BE
A set of white and pink PH hat wall lamp designed by Poul Henningsen in the late 1970s and manufactured by Louis Poulsen in Denmark. Both labeled with paper-stickers from Louis Poulsen.
Metal
$1,648
H 31.5 in Dm 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern Chrome Kaiser 6-Arm Space Age Chandelier, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
This midcentury chandelier by Kaiser Leuchten, crafted in Germany in the 1960s, showcases a captivating Space Age design. Its sleek, futuristic aesthetic is highlighted by six beauti...
Metal
$4,709 / set
H 10.24 in Dm 17.72 in
Pair of wall lamps “PH 4.5” by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Karlstad, SE
Iconic pair of outdoor wall lamps from the PH series, designed by Poul Henningsen and produced by Louis Poulsen. The lamps feature the classic multi-shade system, engineered to provi...
Copper
$5,298
H 8.67 in Dm 16.54 in
Rare Copper Plate Pendant Lamp by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen Denmark 1958
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Munich, DE
Extremely rare, highly decorative and elegant Mid-Century Modern 'Plate' or 'Tallerken' pendant lamp or hanging light. With wonderful light effect. Designed by Poul Henningsen for Lo...
Copper
Wall lamps designed by Flavio Poli for Seguso 1960s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Set of 2 wall sconces designed by Flavio Poli for Seguso in the 1960s, chromed brass structure, colored yellow glass. Excellent conditions, perfectly working. Born in Venice in 1900...
Brass
$2,119
H 24.81 in Dm 13 in
Mid-Century Modern Chrome Kaiser 9-Arm Space Age Chandelier, 1960s, Germany
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A midcentury chandelier made in Germany in the 1960s. It is fascinating with its Space Age design and nine opal glass balls. The body of the light is made of chrome metal, including ...
Metal
$12,198Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 57.09 in D 19.69 in
Hanging Lamp amber Murano glass Plates, Brushed Nickel frame by Multiforme
By Multiforme
Located in Trebaseleghe, IT
The ceiling lamp Tilight exalts the quality of the glass plates. The glass plate is widely used in the lighting sector; however it is not so often used in the manufacturing of custom and decorative chandeliers. Multiforme, with the Tilight collection, re-evaluate the glass plates and adapt it to the most modern taste. The peculiarity of the glass plate in Tilight is the manufacturing. Two colors have been combined in the glass, thus creating peculiar effects and glares. Tilight is an artistic glass ceiling lamp that can suit different spaces. This is possible thanks to the modular structure, made of plates and thus customisable in many sizes, even for large lighting...
Blown Glass
STRIKHA small pendant lamp D 35 in. (900 mm)
By Victoria Yakusha
Located in Miami, FL
STRIKHA / Ukrainian for straw roof / shelter and protect the warm energy of a home. The authentic lighting draws inspiration from roofs that ornate traditional Ukrainian dwellings (...
Willow
Aluminium RS25 Flowerpot Lamp by Poul Cadovius for HF Belysning
By Poul Cadovius, HF Belysning
Located in Echt, NL
Aluminium RS25 flowerpot lamp by Poul Cadovius in very good condition. Manufactured by HF Belysning in 1968. Two aluminium halves, the lower halve...