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Poul Cadovius Seating

Danish, 1911-2011

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.

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Creator: Poul Cadovius
PIA Chair by Poul Cadovius, Walnut
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
PIA chair Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: H 75 x 49 x 48 cm (seat height 45cm) Wood: – Oak – Smoked oak – Black lacquered oak – Walnut Paper cordel: – Natural – Black (Contact us) -- The Pia chair signed by DK3 was imagined and designed by the famous designer Poul...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Walnut

PIA Chair by Poul Cadovius - Black Lacquered Oak
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
PIA Chair Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: H75 x 49 x 48 cm (seat height 45cm) Wood: – Oak – Smoked oak – Black lacquered oak – Walnut Paper ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

PIA Chair by Poul Cadovius - Smoked Oak
By Poul Cadovius, DK3
Located in Paris, IDF
PIA chair Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: H 75 x 49 x 48 cm (seat height 45cm) Wood: – Oak – Smoked oak – Black lacquered oak – Walnut Paper...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Dk3, Natural Cordel, Walnut
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Poul Cadovius for Dk3 Materials: Solid walnut frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: B.47 x D.51 x H.85 cm Seating: B.47 x D.42 x H.65 cm Wood: –...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Fd 211 "Guvenør" Lounge Chairs in Oak
By France & Søn, Poul Cadovius
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Poul Cadovious Manufacturer: France + Søn Era: 1960s Materials: Oak Measurements: 33" wide x 31" deep x 28" tall Condition: In excellent original c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

PIA Chair by Poul Cadovius - Light Oak
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
PIA Chair Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: H75 x 49 x 48 cm (seat height 45cm) Wood: – Oak – Smoked oak – Black lacquered oak – Walnut Paper cordel: – Natural – Black (Contact us) -- The Pia chair signed by DK3 was imagined and designed by the famous designer Poul Codavius...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

Set of Four Rare Teak PIA Chairs by Poul Cadovius, Girsberger, Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Girsberger
Located in Praha, CZ
- very rare type - confortable - merket by label
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Fabric, Teak

President Lounge Chair by Steen Ostergaard for Poul Cadovius, Denmark 1970s
By Poul Cadovius, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Haderslev, DK
Iconic lounge chair from the 1970s by Steen Ostergaard for Poul Cadovius. The model is called President lounge chair. It has been fully r...
Category

1970s Danish Space Age Vintage Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Felt, Fiberglass

Set of 10 Danish Mid Century Modern Cado Dining Chairs Wool Upholstery Denmark
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Set of 10 Danish Mid Century Modern Cado Dining Chairs Wool Upholstery Denmark
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Wool, Chestnut

Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Dk3, Natural Cordel, White Oil Oak
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Poul Cadovius for Dk3 Materials: Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: B.47 x D.51 x H.85 cm Seating: B.47 x D.42 x H.65 cm Wood: – Oa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

vintage armchair + ottoman sofa Cadovius France & Son
By France & Søn, Poul Cadovius
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage armchair + ottoman sofa Cadovius France & Son Vintage modular sofa consisting of an armchair with ottoman. Model "Revolt" designed by Poul Cadovius for France & Son in th...
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Aluminum

Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Dk3, Natural Cordel, Oil Oak
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Poul Cadovius for Dk3 Materials: Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: B.47 x D.51 x H.85 cm Seating: B.47 x D.42 x H.65 cm Wood: – Oa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Dk3, Natural Cordel, Smoked Oak
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Poul Cadovius for Dk3, Materials: Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: B.47 x D.51 x H.85 cm Seating: B.47 x D.42 x H.65 cm Wood: – O...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Dk3, Natural Cordel, Soap Oak
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Poul Cadovius for Dk3 Materials: Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: B.47 x D.51 x H.85 cm Seating: B.47 x D.42 x H.65 cm Wood: – Oa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

vintage armchair sofa Cadovius France & Son
By Poul Cadovius, France & Søn
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage armchair Cadovius France & Son Vintage modular sofa consisting of an armchair. Model "Revolt" designed by Poul Cadovius for France & Son in the 1970s. Can also be combined ...
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Aluminum

Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Dk3, Natural Cordel, Black Lacquered Oak
By DK3, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Counter Stool PIA by Poul Cadovius for Dk3, Materials: Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: B.47 x D.51 x H.85 cm Seating: B.47 x D.42 x H.65 cm Wood: – O...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Oak

Vintage 1958 Set 6 Pia Chairs by Poul Cadovius for Royal Persiennen Woven Seats
By Poul Cadovius, Royal Persiennen
Located in Basel, BS
Pia Chair, Set of 6, Original first edition by Poul Cadovius for Royal Persiennen 1958 model chairs, in excellent vintage condition. Beautiful woven seating. Teak wood. Design by Poul Cadovius, 1958 The Poul Cadovius Pia...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Poul Cadovius Seating

Materials

Cord, Papercord, Rope, Teak

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Poul Cadovius seating for sale on 1stDibs.

Poul Cadovius seating are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Poul Cadovius seating, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 8 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 4 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original seating by Poul Cadovius were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider seating by C.M. Madsen, Harry Østergaard, and Vilhelm Lauritzen. Prices for Poul Cadovius seating can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,212 and can go as high as $11,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,260.

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