Danish Poul Cadovius Wall Unit, Mid-Century Modern Shelf Royal System, Denmark
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer),Cado (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 79.93 in (203 cm)Width: 94.49 in (240 cm)Depth: 19.69 in (50 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:Additions or alterations made to the original: two cut outs in the desk board. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:München, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5971238728672
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: München, Germany
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Vintage Poul Cadovius Wall Unit, Mid-Century Modern Shelf Royal System, DenmarkBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in München, BavariaDimensions (Width x Depth x Height) ca. 240 x 40 / 50 x 203 cm Elevate your living space with this vintage mid-midcentury modern Poul Cadovius Royal System Wall Unit, a true masterpiece of Scandinavian design. Crafted by the iconic Danish designer Poul Cadovius in the 1950s, the Royal System is celebrated for its versatility, functionality, and timeless aesthetic. Crafted in solid teak wood and veneer this wall unit seamlessly blends into various interior styles. The unit features a combination of open shelves that come in different depths, of one them working as desk, a closed cabinet box and a display case with two glasses shelfs that are not shown in the images, providing ample storage space while maintaining a sleek and uncluttered appearance. The modular design allows for customization, making it adaptable to different room configurations and needs. This Vintage Poul Cadovius Royal System...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsTeak, Glass
- Small Poul Cadovius Wall Unit, Mid-Century Shelf Royal System, DenmarkBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in München, BavariaDimensions (Width x Depth x Height) ca. 82,5 x 40 / 50 x 203 cm Elevate your living space with this vintage mid-midcentury modern Poul Cadovius Royal System Wall Unit, a true masterpiece of Scandinavian design. Crafted by the iconic Danish designer Poul Cadovius in the 1950s, the Royal System is celebrated for its versatility, functionality, and timeless aesthetic. Crafted in solid teakwood, walnut and veneer this wall unit seamlessly blends into various interior styles. The unit features a combination of open shelves and a cabinet, providing ample storage space while maintaining a sleek and uncluttered appearance. The modular design allows for customization, making it adaptable to different room configurations and needs. This Vintage Poul Cadovius...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsGlass, Teak
- Small Poul Cadovius Wall Unit with Desk, Mid-Century Shelf Royal System, DenmarkBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in München, BavariaDimensions (Width x Depth x Height) ca. 82,5 x 40 / 50 x 203 cm Elevate your living space with this vintage mid-midcentury modern Poul Cadovius ...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsGlass, Teak
- Mid-Century Three Seat Sofa Senator, Danish Design Teak Couch by Ole WanscherBy Ole Wanscher, CadoLocated in München, BavariaDimensions: 182 x 75 x 80 cm (Width x Height x Depth) This Mid Century three seat sofa was designed by Ole Wanscher for the Sentator Series for France and Son in the 1950s. This mod...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Teak
- Small Round Danish Mid Century Modern Design Teak Dining Table, Denmark, 1960sLocated in München, BavariaDimensions 100 x 73 cm (Diamieter x Height) This Danish design teak table comes in a round shape with a smaller size. The table has been manufactured in solid teak wood in Denmark...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsTeak
- German Mid-Century Wall Unit in Teak by Walter Wirz for Wilhelm Renz, 1960By Walter Wirz, Wilhelm RenzLocated in München, BavariaHeight: 10.24 in. (26 cm) Width: 59.06 in. (150 cm) Depth: 7.48 in. (19 cm) Very shapely, simple and elegant shelf made of a veneered U-shaped profile by Wilhelm Renz for German m...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vitrines
MaterialsTeak
- Shelving System Wall Unit by Poul CadoviusBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in Vienna, ATLarge wall unit, shelving system by Cado Denmark designed by Poul Cadovius in 1958. This shelving systems is made in really height quality hard wood. The system allows arranging mu...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsHardwood, Softwood
- Mid-Century Modern Royal Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960sBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in Amsterdam, NLFunky and elegant Mid-Century Modern Royal modular wall unit. Design by Poul Cadovius for Cado. Striking Danish design from the 1960s. This large teak Mid-Century Modern Royal modula...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- 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
- Poul Cadovius Teak Royal Wall System DenmarkBy Royal, Poul CadoviusLocated in Den Haag, NLFor sale this original Poul Cadovius wall system .Two cabinets One with Three drawers .And one with folding door Desk cabinet . comes with 6 shelves . 3 Uprights and the hardware .V...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsTeak
- Poul Cadovius Cado Royal System Wall Unit Shelving Bookcase 1960s 1970s in TeakBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated 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
- 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
