1960s Poul Cadovius Royal Wall Unit
View Similar Items
1960s Poul Cadovius Royal Wall Unit
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer),Royal System (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 100.79 in (256 cm)Width: 63.39 in (161 cm)Depth: 32.29 in (82 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:Seller: 20511stDibs: LU206536792421
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.
- 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 4 "Royal System" Columns in Teak, 1970By Poul CadoviusLocated in Paris, FRRoyal System" wall unit by Poul Cadovius, in teak, with seven shelves and four boxes. The set is supported by a hanging system of wooden brackets. Dimensions of the elements : - 2 modules with sliding doors: D.40 x H.43 x W.80 cm - 1 module with flaps and drawers : D.40 x H.43 x W.80 cm - 1 storage module for vinyl : D.40 x H.43 x W.80 cm - 6 shelves : D.22 x W.80 cm - 1 shelf : D.30 x W.80 cm The "Royal System" : the modular Scandinavian design These design shelves are fully modular. The elements are attached to the wall moldings...Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsTeak
- Poul Cadovius, Four "Royal System" Columns in Wood, 1965By Poul CadoviusLocated in Paris, FRWall unit "Royal System" by Poul Cadovius, in rosewood, with seven shelves, four boxes and a display case. The set is supported by a system of hanging shelves with wooden brackets. ...Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsWood
- Scandinavian Wooden Bookshelf from the 1960'sLocated in Paris, FRScandinavian bookshelf from the 1960s. It is made out of wood and a blackened tubular metal structure. It's composed of a cabinet with a glass d...Category
Vintage 1960s French Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Bookcase by Designer Kim Moltzer, 1970By Kim MoltzerLocated in Paris, FRLarge design bookcase by Kim Moltzer made in the 1970s. The bookcase is rectangular in shape and uses the geometric forms favoured by the designer. It has eight smoked glass shelves ...Category
Vintage 1970s French Bookcases
MaterialsBrass
- Carrara Marble Bookcase with Glass Shelves, 1970By Alessandro MendiniLocated in Paris, FRLow bookcase crafted of white Carrara marble with three transparent glass shelves. This vintage shelving made in the 1970s is close to the work of Ale...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsCarrara Marble
- 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
- Poul Cadovius wide Royal Wall Unit 1960s DenmarkBy Royal System, Poul CadoviusLocated in Den Haag, NLVery nice iconic Wall system ,by Poul Cadovius for Royal system . 1960s . In a Wide line up . Good condition . Please don't hesitate to reach out for alternative shipping quotesCategory
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsTeak
- 1960s Poul Cadovius Modular Teak 3-Bay Danish Royal System Wall Unit ShelvingBy Royal System, Poul CadoviusLocated 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
- 1960s Poul Cadovius Modular Teak 3-Bay Danish Royal System Wall Unit ShelvingBy Royal System, Poul CadoviusLocated in Sherborne, DorsetThis highly versatile and functional “Royal System” was originally designed by Poul Cadovius in 1948. This useful three-bay teak shelving system offers a wide variety of storage and ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Danish Modern Teak & Glass Shelving System Abstracta by Poul Cadovius, 1960sBy Cado, Poul CadoviusLocated in Odense, DKIngenious minimalist shelving or display unit SYSTEM ABSTRACTA designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, in the 1960s. The system consists of black metal...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsMetal
- Poul Cadovius Two Shelves Wall Unit, 1960sBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Copenhagen, DKRare handmade solitary teak wall unit with two shelves designed by acclaimed Danish designer Poul Cadovius in the 1960s. Solid smoothly rounded wooden brackets on which two shelves a...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsWood, Teak