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.
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 Cado6
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 Cado2
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
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
$15,000 / item
Teak Cado System Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly versatile and functional wall unit in teak by Danish designer Poul Cadovius. The unit shown is an example of what we typically stock. Units are sold by the component - wall ...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Midcentury Bücher- Wandregal Royal Systeme Cado5
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 Cado4
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
Danish Modern Teak & Glass Shelving System Abstracta by Poul Cadovius, 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
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
Original Midcentury Poul Cadovius Wandregal Royal Cado 1960 Teak5
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
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
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
$1,264Sale Price|20% Off
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
Poul Cadovius Freestanding Modular Wall Unit System for Royal System, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in The Hague, NL
Original freestanding wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, model Royal, in the 1960s for Royal System, Denmark. Freestanding wall unit consists 3 black metal uprights, one cabinet an...
Metal
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
Price Upon Request
Rosewood Cado System Wall Unit
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly versatile and functional Cado System wall unit in Brazilian rosewood by Danish designer Poul Cadovius. Wall unit can be customized with va...
Rosewood
Price Upon Request
1958 Danish Rosewood Cado Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly versatile and functional wall unit in Brazilian rosewood by Danish designer Poul Cadovius. Wall unit is in excellent condition. Each support rail is 78" long and each cabinet ...
Rosewood
$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
$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
$3,239
H 78.75 in W 64.57 in D 13 in
Poul Cadovius Freestanding Modular Wall Unit System for Royal System, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in The Hague, NL
Original freestanding wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, model Royal, in the 1960s for Royal System, Denmark. Freestanding wall unit consists 3 black metal uprights, one cabinet an...
Metal
$977
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
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
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
$7,657
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
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
$989 / 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
$1,590
H 78.75 in W 33.86 in D 13.78 in L 59.06 in
Danish Vintage Reol Shelve Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Fm Møbler, 1960s
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Meet a true icon of Danish modern: the reol (shelving) system by Kai Kristiansen. Clean lines, clever proportions, and that effortless Scandinavian cool—this modular system is everyt...
Rosewood
$2,473
H 59.06 in W 68.9 in D 12.6 in
Kai Kristiansen Teak Wall Unit / Modular Shelving System, Denmark, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, NL
Danish mid-century wall unit designed by Kai Kristiansen and made in the 1960s. The unit is crafted from teak and consists of wall-mounted metal rails, adjustable 6 open shelves, and...
Metal
Vintage Decorative Wall Shelf
Located in Queens, NY
English Victorian dark wood decorative wall shelf with carving of drapes and tassels
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 55.5 in W 64.325 in D 11.75 in
Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Wall Shelving, Teak, Royal System, Denmark
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Poul Cadovius designed this exceptional wall-mounted shelving system for Royal System in Denmark during the 1960s. The unit features two sections with teak shelves supported by black...
Metal, Enamel
Sold
H 79.75 in W 64.75 in D 214.75 in
Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Royal System Wall Unit, Teak, Integrated Desk
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Poul Cadovius designed this two-section wall-mounted shelving system for Royal System in Denmark, combining functional storage with elegant Danish Modern design. The unit features bl...
Metal, Enamel
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 125.99 in D 14.97 in
Poul Cadovious Scandinavian Midcentury Oak Royal System, Denmark 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Scandinavian midcentury modern design oak "Royal System" shelves system set designed by Poul Cadovious consisting of 19 shelves with different depths that can be positioned as desire...
Oak
Sold
H 76.5 in W 129 in D 19 in
Mid Century Modern Vintage Teak Cado Wall Hanging System Shelving Unit Desk
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Discover the timeless elegance of the Mid Century Modern Vintage Teak Cado Wall Hanging System, a Danish wall shelving system designed by Poul Cadovius and made by his company Cado i...
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 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
Sold
H 78.75 in W 95.87 in D 14.77 in
60s Poul Cadovius Modular Teak 3-Bay Danish Royal System Wall Unit Shelving Desk
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
This highly versatile and functional “Royal System” was originally designed by Poul Cadovius in 1948. This useful three-bay teak shelving system offers a wide variety of storage and ...
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