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Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s.

About the Item

Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s. Mid-Century Modern 2 bay shelving system model Royal. This is an original vintage floating bookcase designed in 1948 by Danish architect Poul Cadovius. Cadovius had the revolutionary idea to design a floating, modular shelving system that would maximize floor space and signify the end of conformity in shelving. The Royal System shelving unit went on to win the gold medal at the Finland Furniture Fair in 1950 and silver medal at the XI Triennale di Milano 1957 and remained a hallmark of Scandinavian modern design throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Versatile and flexible floating bookcase that allows for continuous rearranging to suit individual needs. This original Cado Royal System is suitable for both living room, home office or library. This is an early version with the inset brass eyelets for the shelf brackets. The cabinet has a drop down door, an open shelf and three small drawers. All elements can be moved around as desired without the use of tools. The two short uprights can also be placedon either side of the system, making it a 3 bay unit. This set consists of: 1 Upright in stained beech, length 170 cm. 1 Upright in stained beech, length 148.5 cm. 2 Uprights in stained beech, length 76 cm. 1 Cabinet, 30 x 80 x 33.5 cm. 7 Shelves, 20 x 80 cm. Patinated brass brackets. This item will be disassembled for transport, please ask for custom shipping quote. Good vintage condition with light patina consistent with age and use, like small nicks and scratches (please see photos). All parts have been checked and all surfaces have been cleaned and polished. Ready for use.

Creator:

Cado (Manufacturer),Poul Cadovius (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 66.93 in (170 cm)Width: 64.57 in (164 cm)Depth: 11.82 in (30 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Teak

Place of Origin:

Denmark

Period:

1950-1959

Date of Manufacture:

1950-1959

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Good vintage condition with light patina consistent with age and use, like small nicks and scratches (please see photos). All parts have been checked and all surfaces have been cleaned and polished. Ready for use.

Seller Location:

Asaa, DK

Reference Number:

Seller: 12171stDibs: LU4897238639972

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Shop All Poul Cadovius

Poul Cadovius

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. He followed it 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.