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.
Side Tables “Abstracta” system designed by Poul Cadovius 1960s
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Den Haag, NL
Elegant side tables 2 sizes is made of high quality chrome plated metal. It has a thin, tubular metal frame with the connections in each corner allowing the piece to be built up an...
Chrome
$3,005 / set
Poul Cadovius Chess Table
By Poul Cadovius
Located in London, Lambeth
Beautiful pair of side tables with a playing surface in rosewood and teak inlay. Simple flexible design circa 1960s by Poul Cadovius for France & Son.
Rosewood
$2,200
H 22.64 in W 21.07 in D 21.07 in
Danish Rosewood Coffee Table with Removable Chess Board, 1960s
By Georg Petersens, Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik
Located in Lejre, DK
Game table in rosewood, designed and made by Georg Petersen. Great original condition.
Rosewood
Neoclassical Italian Walnut Inlay Tripod Chess Games or Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian round walnut side table with great details and frames shaped in Victorian, Napoleon III, Louis XV style with chessboard on the top and the tripod feet legs. A ver...
Wood
Poul Cadovius Round Dining Table Aluminum & Melamine
By France & Søn, Poul Cadovius
Located in Hanover, MA
Poul Cadovius (1911-2011) early 1960s round single pedestal dining/breakfast table with a tulip form spun aluminum round base and integrated stem supporting a satin finish white mela...
Aluminum
$4,372
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
$813
H 19.69 in W 25.2 in D 17.33 in
Side Table Made In Rosewood Designed By Henning Kjærnulf From 1960s
By Vejle Stole & Møbelfabrik, Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Lejre, DK
This rosewood side table, a creation of Henning Kjærnulf in the 1960s, epitomizes the elegance of Danish mid-century design. Crafted with precision and finesse, it seamlessly blends ...
Rosewood
Table Tilt Top Swedish Chess Game Pedestal Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Table Tilt Top Swedish Chess Game Pedestal Sweden. A Swedish tilt top table made during the later part of 19th Century. Painted chess game on the top. Ornate base.
Wood
$1,047
H 16.93 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Coffee Table Made In Teak By Poul Cadovius & Made By France & Son From 1960s
By France & Søn, Poul Cadovius
Located in Lejre, DK
This coffee table, a hallmark of Danish design from the 1960s, reflects the innovative vision of Poul Cadovius and the renowned craftsmanship of France & Son. Crafted from rich teak ...
Teak
Bedside Table/Side Table In Teak, Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Danish bedside table/side table in teak from the 1960s. Completely renovated and in great condition. — Designer: Dansk Design — Period: 1960s — Material: Teak — Details: Completely ...
Teak
PK 71 - Nesting tables in steel by Poul Kjærholm
By Poul Kjærholm, Fritz Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
PK 71 - Nesting tables in patinated steel with top in black acrylic. Designed by Poul Kjærholm for Fritz Hansen.
Steel
$2,131
H 15.56 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Scandinavian Modern Square Rosewood Coffee or Cocktail Table by Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius, France & Søn
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
Side Table Made In Rosewood Of Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
The side table crafted from rosewood and showcasing Danish design from the 1960s is a striking example of mid-century modern elegance. Rosewood, prized for its rich hues and distin...
Rosewood
Chess Piece Side Table by Panorammma
Located in Geneve, CH
Chess piece side table by Panorammma Materials: Wood, resin. Dimensions: 45 x 30 cm. Panorammma is a furniture design atelier based in Mex...
Resin, Wood
Poul Cadovius Coffee Table in Rosewood, Denmark 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, France & Søn
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Poul Cadovius coffee table in veenered rosewood, steel details. Made by France & Son.
Aluminum
Sold
H 17.33 in W 13 in D 11.82 in
Set of 2 ‘Cubex’ Side Tables by Poul Cadovius for Cado, Denmark 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of 2 ‘Cubex’ side tables by Poul Cadovius for Cado, Denmark 1960s. These tables are made out of Oregon pine and features black lacquered joints. Both re in a very well presented ...
Pine
Poul Cadovius Coffee Table in Rosewood, Denmark 1960s
By France & Søn, Poul Cadovius
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Poul Cadovius coffee table in partly solid rosewood, chess pattern. Made by France & Son.
Rosewood
Sold
H 17.72 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Santos Rosewood and Aluminium Coffee Table by Poul Cadovious for France and Son
By France & Søn, Poul Cadovius
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A very nice coffee table, sometimes by Poul Cadovious, the nicely figured Santos Rosewood ( a species which does not require CITES certification) with aluminium edges and legs. A ver...
Aluminum
Sold
H 17.72 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Santos Rosewood and Aluminium Coffee Table by Poul Cadovious for France and Son
By Poul Cadovius, France & Søn
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A very nice coffee table, sometimes by Poul Cadovious, the nicely figured Santos Rosewood ( a species which does not require CITES certification) with aluminium edges and legs. A ver...
Aluminum
Paul Cadovius Danish Teak Coffee Table
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A sled leg teak wood coffee table with checker board styled top manufactured by the Cado Furniture company, Denmark.
Pair of Rosewood "Chess" Side Tables by Poul Cadovius
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Pair of rosewood "Chess" side tables by Poul Cadovius for Cado.
Rosewood