Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Four-Bay Wall Unit
View Similar Items
Mid-Century Poul Cadovius Four-Bay Wall Unit
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 80 in (203.2 cm)Width: 126.25 in (320.68 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. In fantastic vintage condition with minor wear consistent with age and use. No structural issues or damage to note.
- Seller Location:Raleigh, NC
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6888238006972
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.
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.
- Mid Century Lane Rhythm DresserBy Lane FurnitureLocated in Raleigh, NCBeautiful mid century lane rhythm dresser with smooth sliding drawers and middle compartment. Very minimal patina appropriate with age. Top has bee...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Walnut
- Mid-Century Danish Teak ConsoleLocated in Raleigh, NCThe perfect petite Danish teak sliding glass front console. A great media case for under a TV, or for book storage and small decor items. Measurin...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsGlass, Wood, Teak
- Mid-Century Founders Armchairs - a PairBy Founders Furniture CompanyLocated in Raleigh, NCA pair of mid-century lounge chairs by Founders. This pair has so much to offer. Sculpted walnut wraps around the back of the chair contouring the rounded back. The walnut has a warm...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Wood
$4,200 / set - Mid-Century Paul McCobb Style DresserLocated in Raleigh, NCMid-century long and large dresser in the style of Paul McCobb. This impressive piece is made from walnut and features twelve smooth-sliding drawers. Four drawers frame the left side...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Adrian Pearsall Havana LoungeBy Adrian PearsallLocated in Raleigh, NCMid-century Havana lounge designed by Adrian Pearsall, circa 1960s. The Havana lounge is circular in form with a curved sloped backrest. It sits on four ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
- Mid-Century Salterini Style Barstools - A PairLocated in Raleigh, NCVery cool foldable wrought iron Salterini barstools. Possibly French. Great condition considering age. Patina as expected but the kind you’d expect and like. They’re surprisingly com...Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWrought Iron
$1,200 / set
- Scandinavian Modular Wall Unit by Poul CadoviusBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Paris, FRScandinavian shelf by Poul Cadovius (Denmark, 1911-2011). Teak version with three wall panels supporting several shelves and boxes. This wall system is composed of : - 4 shelves - 1 box with sliding doors in wood - 1 glass sliding door cabinet...Category
Vintage 1960s French Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsTeak
- Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s.By Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in Asaa, DKDanish 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 desi...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsTeak
- Vintage Danish 2-Bay Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s.By Cado, Poul CadoviusLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Danish 2-Bay Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 2 bay shelving system model Cado with back panels. This is a original vintage flo...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsRosewood
- CADO Poul Cadovius wall system for bookcases, shelves and storage unitsBy Poul CadoviusLocated in SAINT-YRIEIX-SUR-CHARENTE, FRCADO" wall system designed by Poul Cadovius (1911-2011) Denmark, circa 1960. Composed of 5 panels each measuring 190x80cm, two blocks of 5 drawers, a block with flap and key forming ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsWood, Teak, Walnut
- Poul cadoviusBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Grenoble, FRPoul cadovius Very nice set of Cadovius teak stoves from the Cado series from 1958 in very good condition. One of the boxes has a series of drawers, the doors are in painted plywood ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsWood
$4,660 - Danish Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1950sBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Danish teak wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s. Mid-Century Modern 2 bay shelving system model Royal. This is a 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...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsTeak