Poul Cadovius Abstracta Shelving Unit
View Similar Items
Poul Cadovius Abstracta Shelving Unit
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer),Royal (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 75.25 in (191.14 cm)Width: 96 in (243.84 cm)Depth: 14 in (35.56 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. 96 x 14 x 75.25.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: ST227 RD1stDibs: LU922415732131
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.
- Poul Cadovius Abstracta Style Stacking Shelving UnitBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Los Angeles, CAIncredible, Mid-Century standing shelving unit or room divider. Reminiscent of Poul Cadovius' 'Abstracta' system. Ten rearrangeable and stackab...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Cadovius Style Wenge Wall Mount Shelving SystemBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis Mid-Century wenge wall-mounted shelving system in the style of Danish designer Poul Cadovius has interchangeable shelves and a cabinet mounted on metal risers. The cabinet has n...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsAluminum
- Industrial Double Section Wall Mount Shelving UnitBy TomadoLocated in Los Angeles, CADutch Mid-Century double section industrial wall mount shelving unit with one wider section, which has a yellow white shelf and a narrower section with two black shelves. The shelve...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Tomado Yellow and Orange Wall Mount Shelving UnitBy Tomado, Jan Van Der TogtLocated in Los Angeles, CADutch Mid-Century single section Tomado wall mounted shelving unit by Jan Van Der Togt. Mustard and red enameled metal shelves on white risers with original manufacture stamp. This s...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Tomado Wall Mount Red and Yellow Shelving UnitBy TomadoLocated in Los Angeles, CADutch Mid-Century single section industrial style wall mounted shelving by the iconic Tomado company. Features Yellow and red enameled metal shelves on black wire risers with some vi...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Tomado Style Industrial Multicolor 2 Section Wall Mount Shelving UnitBy TomadoLocated in Los Angeles, CADutch Mid-Century, Tomado style, industrial two section wall mounted shelving with yellow, red and black shelves on black enameled metal risers. In original condition with visible we...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Poul Cadovius Shelving Unit 'Abstracta', Denmark, 1960sBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Antwerpen, BEAbstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. Frame in black lacquered steel pipes and shelves in teak veneer, figured glass and normal glass...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsSteel
- Vintage Danish Abstracta Corner Bookcase by Poul Cadovius, 1960sBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Danish Abstracta corner bookcase by Poul Cadovius, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern minimalistic shelving unit system Abstracta, Denmark designed in 1962 by Danish architect Poul...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsAluminum, Steel
- 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
- Poul Cadovius 3-Piece Shelving System 'Abstracta', Denmark, 1960sBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Antwerpen, BE3-Piece Abstracta shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. This unit consist of black lacquered steel pipes, 2 types of glass shelves, metal plate...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Minimalist Bookcases
MaterialsSteel
- Shelving System Wall Unit by Poul CadoviusBy Cado, Poul CadoviusLocated 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
- Danish Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1950sBy Cado, Poul CadoviusLocated 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