1960s Large Modular Wall Unit "Royal System" by Poul Cadovius in Walnut
View Similar Items
1960s Large Modular Wall Unit "Royal System" by Poul Cadovius in Walnut
About the Item
- Creator:Cado (Manufacturer),Poul Cadovius (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 77.96 in (198 cm)Width: 127.96 in (325 cm)Depth: 7.88 in (20 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Silvolde, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2126334068792
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.
- 1960s Slim Swedish Bookcase Cabinet in Teak Designed by Svante Skogh for SeffleBy Svante Skogh, Seffle MöbelfabrikLocated in Silvolde, GelderlandSlim and high quality Swedish, table model, bookcase cabinet with two sliding doors, horizontal and vertical veneered, and one adjustable shelf all in teak. Inside finished with oak. The bookcase is designed by Swedish famous furniture...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsOak, Teak
- 1950's Teak Shelf System / Bookcase in Teak with Steel Bars by Harald LundqvistLocated in Silvolde, GelderlandBeautiful and extremely rare modulair shelf system designed by Harald Lundqvist for Lizzy Element Möbel Sweden from the 1950's. The three shelfs are adjustable in hight. The cabinet ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsSteel
$1,404 Sale Price40% Off - 70s White and Stainless Steel System Cabinet by Jacob Jensen for Bang & OlufsenBy Bang & Olufsen, Jacob JensenLocated in Silvolde, GelderlandAbsolutely rare system cabinet / audio cabinet in white combined with stainless steel stands and details designed by Jacob Jensen for Bang & Olufsen in Denmark Type: 2064 Model: SC50. It's a great system cabinet / audio cabinet to display your vinyl player...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal, Stainless Steel
$1,522 Sale Price20% Off - 1960s Teak Drawer and Shelfs Cabinet by Carl Axel Acking for Bodafors, SwedenBy Carl-Axel Acking, BodaforsLocated in Silvolde, GelderlandElegant teak bookcase cabinet build up with a two lockable drawers sideboard underneath and a cabinet on top in which are two adjustable shelf. Build up in high quality materials and...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsBrass
- 60s Hovering Rosewood Wall Mounted Cabinets Shelfs With Two Matching Side TablesBy Eyvind BeckmanLocated in Silvolde, GelderlandAbsolutely beautiful sideboard consists three free hanging cabinets and two matching tables all in Brazilian Rosewood attributed to Eyvind Beckman and i...Category
Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsRosewood, Plywood
- 1960s Brass and Glass Wall Light SconeLocated in Silvolde, GelderlandBeautiful brass wall light from Sweden. This lamp consists of a copper base with five white glass shades like a branch with berries. The shades have transparent lines making it a nic...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Danish Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960sBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Danish teak wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 4 bay shelving system model Royal. This is a original vintage floating bookcase designed in 1948...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsTeak
- 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 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
- Poul Cadovius Cado Royal System Wall Unit Shelving Bookcase 1960s 1970s in TeakBy Cado, Poul CadoviusLocated in Markington, GBA wonderful large 5 Bay mid century Danish vintage PS wall unit in teak, this dates from the 1960s. The condition is excellent for its age, little wear to be seen, the teak has a stu...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsTeak
$12,494 Sale Price30% Off - 1960s Poul Cadovius Modular Teak 3-Bay Danish Royal System Wall Unit ShelvingBy Poul Cadovius, Royal SystemLocated in Sherborne, DorsetThis highly versatile and functional “Royal System” was originally designed by Poul Cadovius in 1948. This three-bay teak shelving system offers a wide variety of storage and display...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Large vintage wall system by Poul Cadovius made in the 1960sBy Cado, Poul CadoviusLocated in Breda, NBLarge vintage wall system by Poul Cadovius made in the 1960s. Dimensions: Width: 243 cm Height: 202 cm Depth: 40 cm Valve box: Width: 80 cm Depth: 37.5 cm Height: 42.5 cm Chest of...Category
Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsTeak