Poul Cadovius 3-Bay Wall Unit in Teak for Cado, Danish Design, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 95.28 in (242 cm)Width: 94.49 in (240 cm)Depth: 15.75 in (40 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Antwerpen, BE
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Antwerpen, Belgium
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- 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
- Room divider by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, 1960’sBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Antwerpen, BERoom divider designed by Poul Cadovius and produced in Denmark around 1960. This set features two black lacquered steel supports and a large cabinet with 2 shelves on each side. In g...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Screens and Room Dividers
MaterialsSteel
- Louis van Teeffelen Wall Unit for Wébé, Dutch design, 1960sBy Louis Van Teeffelen, WéBéLocated in Antwerpen, BE3-piece wall unit by Louis van Teeffelen for Wébé, Dutch design 1960’s. This set features four organic uprights in black lacquered wood and a variety of shelves and cabinets. This is...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsWood
- Alfred Hendrickx Wardrobe for Belform, Belgian Design, 1960sBy Alfred HendrickxLocated in Antwerpen, BEWardrobe designed by Alfred Hendrickx and produced by Belform in Belgium around 1960. Made from bubinga veneer. Apart from a small crack in the black lacquered base on the left and r...Category
Vintage 1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsBubinga
- Illum Wikkelso 3-Seater Sofa for Niels Eilersen, Denmark, 1960sBy Niels Eilersen, Illum WikkelsøLocated in Antwerpen, BE3-seater sofa by Illum Wikkelsø, produced by Eilersen in Denmark in the 1960’s. Solid teak frame garnished with pillows upholstered in the original woolen quality fabric. The singels...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Teak
- Roll top secretary in teak by Egon Ostergaard, Sweden, 1960sBy Egon OstergaardLocated in Antwerpen, BERoll top secretary designed by Egon Ostergaard for MSI, Sweden during the 1960’s. Solid teak and teak veneer. The upper rolltop opens on three small drawers and neat compartments abo...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
MaterialsTeak
- 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
- Vintage Danish 2-Bay Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s.By Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Danish 2-Bay Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 2 bay shelving system model Cado with back panels. This is a original vintage flo...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsRosewood
- Vintage Danish Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.By Cado, Poul CadoviusLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Danish Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 4 bay shelving system model Cado. This is a original vintage floating bookcase designed by...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsTeak
- Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s.By Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated 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
- Vintage Danish Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960sBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in Asaa, DKVintage Danish rosewood modular wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s Mid-Century Modern 3 bay shelving system model Cado. This is a original vintage floating bookcase designed ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsRosewood
- 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
