Poul Cadovius founded the furniture manufacturer Royal System in 1945. While the Danish designer is most famous for his novel modular floating shelving systems, 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.
Royal System was a home for producing Cadovius’s designs, which 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.
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 by vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors and design enthusiasts alike.
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 vintage Royal System shelving units, bookcases and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Poul Cadovius Royal System Teak Modular Wall Unit Danish Mid-Century Modern 1960
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impressive Danish Mid-Century Modern modular wall unit crafted in warm teak and dating to the 1960s. This versatile wall-mounted system combines generous storage with a functional wo...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Vintage 1960s Royal Teak Wall System with 4 Cabinets
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Den Haag, NL
Look at this stunning hanging Wall System, warm Teak Color . Iconic design by Poul Cadovius . Signed . 4 Cabinets, one rare high Cabinet comes with two Thick glass shelves, one Cabi...
Teak
Poul Cadovius for Cado/Royal System 3-Bay Wall Unit in Brazilian Rosewood
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed in the late 1960s by Poul Cadovius, this 2nd generation wall unit was produced by Cado during the same time period. Cado as a company was founded when Poul began selling his...
Glass, Rosewood
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
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
1960s Poul Cadovius Cado Dining Table in Teak with Two Leaves 94"
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Rectangular Drop-Leaf Dining Table in Teak, designed by Poul Cadovius for Royal System in Denmark in the 1960s. We have had the table freshly refinished, revealing an exqui...
Steel
$3,360Sale Price|20% Off
Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' Metal, Teak, Glass Modular Display Unit, Denmark 1960
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Minimal Danish design modular display shelving by Paul Cadovius Around 1960 Poul Cadovius made a huge impact on the shelving area of the Danish furniture industry – he designed a freestanding modular based shelving system in metal with endless combinations and able be assembled without using tools...
Metal
Vintage Royal System Wall Unit, Mid-Century Modern Teak & Metal, 244cm
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Antwerpen, Vlaanderen
An elegant vintage Royal System wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, combining warm teak with slender black metal shelf supports. Arranged across three bays, this modular composition...
Metal
$10,187
H 98.43 in W 94.89 in D 19.3 in
1960s 1970s Rio Rosewood Shelving System by Poul Cadovius for Cado Denmark
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
1960s/70s Rio Rosewood Shelving System by Poul Cadovius for Cado Denmark Object: Shelving Unit Manufacturer: Cado Condition: Good Age: Circa 1960-1970 Dimensions: Width = 241cm...
Rosewood
$5,520 / set
H 80 in W 95 in D 21.25 in
Poul Cadovius for Cado Rosewood 3 Bay Danish Modern Shelving Unit
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in New Windsor, NY
Rosewood three bay modular shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius for Cado. Circa 1968. The Cado System is comprised of 26 separate parts: four wall mounted brackets, 12 shelf supports, three cabinets and seven shelves. There are two drop front cabinets, one for records which includes wire partitions and the other has a mirrored back with white laminate tops and the largest has two doors with a sliding surface for a stereo turntable...
Metal, Brass
$4,292
H 78.75 in W 96.07 in D 14.97 in
Danish Modern 3-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern 3-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 3 bay shelving system model Royal. This is an original vintage floating ...
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
$8,867 / set
H 120.87 in W 79.53 in D 12.8 in
Large 1950s Italian Mid Century Teak Maple Freestanding Shelving System 18 Piece
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Recently imported from Italy, this is a good example of post war Italian Avant Garde design. Measuring an impressive 3-metres from floor to ceiling – a common height in Italian apartments – with opportunity to arrange the shelves to suit. This impressive freestanding storage...
Brass
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
$2,342
H 58.47 in W 64.38 in D 14.97 in
Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 2 bay shelving system model Royal. This is an original vintage floating bookcase desi...
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
$3,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 95 in W 90 in D 18 in
Danish Modern Modular Adjustable Wall Unit Shelving 1960s-- 22 pcs Complete Wall
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Madison, WI
Very cool, versatile wall unit shelving modular set. Includes 9 regular shelves Includes 6 Medium shelves Includes 3 Large shelves 37 shelving brackets of various sizes 4 mounting po...
Metal
Danish Rosewood Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Rosewood Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Danish Mid-Century Modern 1 bay shelving system model Cado. This is a original vintage floating bookcase designed by Danis...
Rosewood
1960s wall shelf, Poul Cadovius
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic shelving system from the 1960s. The high-quality containers and shelves are veneered in teak. The system consists of nine shelves, a record container, and three wooden ladder...
Wood, Teak
$1,545
H 59.06 in W 33.86 in D 13.78 in
Danish Vintage Reol Shelve Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Fm Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
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
Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Teak Two Part Wall System for Royal
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wall-mounted modular shelving system by Poul Cadovius for Royal Systems combines three teak shelves with a floating drawer cabinet. Black enameled metal brackets and black lacquered ...
Metal, Enamel
Sold
H 55.5 in W 64.325 in D 11.75 in
Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Wall Shelving, Teak, Royal System, Denmark
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
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 90.56 in W 94.49 in D 15.75 in
Poul Cadovius modular floating Teak and White Wall system 1960s Denmark
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beathiful iconic Poul Cadovius Royal Wall System . Comes in a very nice Teak And White color combination . Denmark 1960s The set is consisting of .3 very Hight 230 cm and 1 short...
Teak
Poul Cadovius hanging Royal Wall System 1950s Denmark
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Den Haag, NL
For sale this iconic Royal System by Poul Cadovius 1950s in the rare African Bonkonko Wood Beautiful warm light color . 4 uprights 2 Cabinets 12 shelves ....
Wood
Poul Cadovius modular Royal Wall System 1950s Denmark
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Den Haag, NL
Vintage iconic wall system designed in 1948 by the Danish designer Poul Cadovius. The Royal System has been released at Cado Denmark. The wall system is made of teak and consists of...
Teak
Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal System, 1950s
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Antwerpen, Vlaanderen
Danish modular wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal System, produced in Denmark in the 1960s. This teak setup has two drawer cabinets, two display cabinets and six bookshelves. Alway...
Metal
Sold
H 78.75 in W 96.46 in D 20.48 in
Stunning free standing Royal Wall system Poul Cadovius 1950s Denmark
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stunning Poul Cadovius free standing wall system . No drilling in the wall Beautiful warm Teak color .Black Metal frame . comes with 3 cabinets ,and a extra large writing shelve . V...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Teak Bookcase Shelves For Royal System 1960s
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Den Haag, NL
Iconic Poul Cadovius for Royal System . Denmark 1960s Bookcase . The perfect solution , for your storage problems Takes not muts space ,and can holt a lot . Rare...
Teak
Sold
H 106.3 in W 192.92 in D 31.5 in
Poul Cadovius Room Divider Teak Royal Wall System Free standing shelving Unit
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
A rare opportunity to acquire an original free-standing room divider with 7 solid teak poles (only 6 photographed) from Poul Cadovius’ iconic Royal System. Designed in 1948, the Roya...
Metal
Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal System, 1950s
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Antwerpen, Vlaanderen
Danish modular wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal System. This teak setup has one drawer cabinet, one woven bar cabinet, one reading shelf, one desk shelf, four black wooden wall l...
Metal
Sold
H 85 in W 95 in D 20 in
Poul Cadovious "SYSTEM ROYAL" 3-Bay Teak Wall Unit 3 Media Cabinets & 8 Shelves
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Poul Cadovius, this wall unit was made in the 1960s by Royal System in Denmark. It feaures two different systems, with eight total uprights, four long and four short. The...
Wood, Teak