Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal System 1950s
View Similar Items
Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal System 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Artist),Royal System (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 69.3 in (176 cm)Width: 96.46 in (245 cm)Depth: 11.82 in (30 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Lasne, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4853231322312
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.
- Italian Wall Unit by Feal, 1950sBy FealLocated in Lasne, BEModular wall unit in wood, brass and metal with 6 shelves. Height-adjustable. Wear due to time and age of the wall unit.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Wall Unit by George Nelson for Mobilier International, 1960sBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Lasne, BEWall unit composed of 5 boxes, 2 glass boards, 4 aluminum posts adjustable in height: Min: 258cm Max: 265cm and 4 wooden boards. Wear due to time and age...Category
Vintage 1960s Central American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal, Aluminum
- Zig Zag Wall Unit By Joelle Ferlande & François Monnet For Kappa, 1970sBy FealLocated in Lasne, BEModular wall shelves in stainless steel by Joelle Ferlande & François Monnet, Model: Zig Zag. Wear due to time and ageCategory
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Italian Wall Unit, 1960sLocated in Lasne, BEModular wall unit with 3 shelves, 2 boxes with two sliding glass doors containing one shelf, 1 boxes with a folding door containing one shelf and 1 boxes with 4 drawers and a door c...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal, Brass
$4,068 - Secretary by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, 1960sBy Bernini, Gianfranco FrattiniLocated in Lasne, BEWooden secretary. The roll top opens by pulling on the leather inlaid writing surface, underneath it are small drawers. This secretary has 10 drawers in the front, several drawers behind the roll top and in the back there are two glass shelves. The legs are made of solid wood and are connected by aluminum strips. On the top there is a glass shelf on which you can put objects while using the rolling...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
MaterialsAluminum
- Large Table by Georges Nelson for Herman Miller, 1950sBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Lasne, BEWooden table with metal legs by George Nelson. Numbered on the leg. Wear due to time and age of the table.Category
Vintage 1950s Central American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Poul Cadovius for Royal System Wall System Book Shelves in Teak, Denmark, 1950sBy Poul Cadovius, Royal SystemLocated in Amsterdam, NLLarge freestanding wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal system. With 4 black metal risers and teak veneer cabinets and shelves. 1x cabinet with sliding doors 42.5 x 37,5 x 160 cm ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal
- Wall Unit in Elmwood by Poul Cadovius for Royal System, Denmark, 1950sBy Poul Cadovius, Royal SystemLocated in Amsterdam, NLBlack wooden risers and elmwood veneer book shelves and cabinet with black metal hooks. This wall unit consist of: 2 x shelf 80 x 20 cm 1 x shelf 80 ...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Cado 2 Bay Shelf by Poul Cadovius Royal System DenmarkBy Poul Cadovius, Royal SystemLocated in Philadelphia, PAPoul Cadovius Royal Shelf System. Possibilities are endless as to how you might set this unit up! Unit contains 1 Cabinet with sliding wood doors and inter...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Teak
- 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
- Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s.By Cado, Poul CadoviusLocated 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
- Mid-Century Modern Large Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal System , 1950sBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Brussels, BEMid-Century Modern Large Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal System , 1950sCategory
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsWood
