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.
Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern 2-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 2 bay shelving system model Royal. This is an original vintage floating bookcase desi...
Teak
Vintage Danish Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 4 bay shelving system model Cado. This is a original vintage floating book...
Rosewood
Vintage Danish Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 4 bay shelving system model Cado. This is a original vintage floating book...
Rosewood
Danish Modern 1-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern 1-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 1 bay shelving system model Royal. This is an original vintage floating bookcase desi...
Teak
$499 / item
Midcentury Walnut Cado Display Shelf
By Poul Cadovius
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Walnut Cado System display shelf thats meant to hold books or flat artwork. The shelf has a beautiful catch at the bottom preventing a book from...
Rosewood
Danish Modern Teak & Glass Cado Wall Unit Display Cabinet
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful teak wall display cabinet designed by Poul Cadiovious for the Cado wall system , this one has its own poles fo easy hanging on the wall and removable glass doors for easy s...
Glass, Teak
Poul Cadovius Royal System Danish Teak Wall Unit Bookcase, 1940s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in LYON, FR
Created in the late 1940s by Poul Cadovius, the Royal System bookcase is now considered one of the most iconic creations of 20th-century Scandinavian design. A visionary in his appro...
Teak
Rare Poul Cadovius Royal system bookcase with extendable table, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in LYON, FR
Poul Cadovius Royal System 60's Bookcase Modular Danish bookcase from the 1960s in teak by Poul Cadovius Royal System. A classic example of a Danish wall unit. Version with teak upr...
Teak
Poul Cadovius, Teak Royal System, Scandinavian Midcentury, Denmark 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Göteborg, SE
Poul Cadovius designed the Royal System shelving system in 1948. It was one of the world's first shelves that hung on the wall, freeing up floor space. The shelving system quickly be...
Metal
Large Danish Teak Wall Bookcase by Poul Cadovius, F139
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large wall bookcase from the 60's designed by the Danish designer Poul Cadovius. This bookcase is composed of different modular elements on three ...
Teak
Danish Modern 1-Bay Walnut Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern 1-Bay Walnut Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 1 bay shelving system model Cado with back panel. This is a original vi...
Walnut
$4,873
Poul cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Grenoble, FR
Poul cadovius Very nice set of Cadovius teak stoves from the Cado series from 1958 in very good condition. One of the boxes has a series of drawers, the doors are in painted plywood ...
Wood
Original Poul Cadovius Midcentury Bücherregal Wandregal Cado Teak
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes kleines Wandregal vom dänischen Traditionshersteller Cado aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Poul Cadovius entworfen und erl...
Teak
Mid century modern scandinavian Original Shelf walnut and lacquered steel
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Prototype presented at the Copenhagen Design Weekend 2023 with metal shelves identical to the original. Actually the model with metal shelves is not yet in production. Modern people...
Steel
Poul Cadovius modular bookase, Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Parma, IT
Rare modular wall-mounted teak bookcase designed by Paul Cadovius, Denmark, 1960s. All elements can be freely arranged on the three wall uprights. The bookcase consists of: a drop-do...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Butterfly shelves set of 6 Copper Denmark 1960
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
Wall shelves made by Danish Designer Poul Cadovius in 1960. They can be hung in different ways and can also be used for decorational purposes only. Rare Copper edition set of 6 shelv...
Copper
Poul Cadovius Butterfly 6 shelves in brass Denmark 1960
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, IDF
Wall shelves made by Danish Designer Poul Cadovius in 1960 They can be hung in different ways and can also be used for decorational purposes only. Rare brass edition. Set Of 6 shelve...
Brass
$3,366 / set
H 78.75 in W 63 in D 14.97 in
Poul Cadovius, Teak Royal System, Scandinavian Midcentury, Denmark 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Göteborg, SE
Poul Cadovius designed the Royal System shelving system in 1948. It was one of the world's first shelves that hung on the wall, freeing up floor space. The shelving system quickly be...
Metal
$1,264Sale Price|20% Off
H 18 in W 30 in D 16 in
Poul Cadovius Cado Teak Wall Shelf Units, 'Three Pieces'
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three Poul Cado wall units. One is a three drawer cabinet measures - 30"W x 16"D x 18"H One drop down bar cabinet measures - 30"W x 14.5"Dx16H ...
Teak
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
H 68.5 in W 33.5 in D 15 in
ONE AVAILABLE. Display Shelf in Red Tubular Enameled Steel with 3/8 Inch Glass
Located in Kansas City, MO
ONE AVAILABLE. Storage shelf with 3/8 inch polished edge glass and red enameled tubular frames. Very good condition. Price is for one. These would work well in any mid century, post...
Glass
Vintage Danish Modern Teak Bookcase Display Shelf Cabinet MCM
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful vintage Danish Modern bookcase crafted in teak with clean Scandinavian lines and elegant tapered legs. This compact open shelving unit features a warm teak grain throughout...
Teak
Danish Rosewood Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Rosewood Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Danish Mid-Century Modern 1 bay shelving system model Cado. This is a original vintage floating bookcase designed by Danis...
Rosewood
1960s wall shelf, Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic shelving system from the 1960s. The high-quality containers and shelves are veneered in teak. The system consists of nine shelves, a record container, and three wooden ladder...
Wood, Teak
$7,800 / set
H 80 in W 95 in D 21.25 in
Poul Cadovius for Cado Rosewood 3 Bay Danish Modern Shelving Unit
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in New Windsor, NY
Rosewood three bay modular shelving unit designed by Poul Cadovius for Cado. Circa 1968. The Cado System is comprised of 26 separate parts: four wall mounted brackets, 12 shelf supports, three cabinets and seven shelves. There are two drop front cabinets, one for records which includes wire partitions and the other has a mirrored back with white laminate tops and the largest has two doors with a sliding surface for a stereo turntable...
Metal, Brass
$2,295
H 40 in W 26.5 in D 18.5 in
Austrian Wiener Werkstätte Bookcase/ Shelf /Bakers Rack/ Display Stand
By Thonet
Located in New York City, NY
A three shelf Jugendstil bookcase / etagere / bakers rack, two tone in stained and polished beechwood with decorative openwork side panels extendin...
Beech
Large Danish Teak Wall Bookcase by Poul Cadovius, F139
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large wall bookcase from the 60's designed by the Danish designer Poul Cadovius. This bookcase is composed of different modular elements on three ...
Teak
$1,020
H 28 in W 34 in D 11 in
Vintage Danish Rosewood Bookcase Shelf Scandinavian Modern Display Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful vintage Scandinavian Modern bookcase crafted in richly grained rosewood in Denmark. This elegant open shelving unit features clean Danish modern lines, tapered solid wood l...
Rosewood
$4,525Sale Price|40% Off
H 73.04 in W 93.71 in D 16.54 in
1960s Poul Cadovius for Cado 3-Bay Rosewood Wall Unit
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Poul Cadovius for Cado 3-bay rosewood wall unit manufactored by Cado We are selling this rosewood wall unit as is for a client who has owned it for many years but no longer ha...
Rosewood
$10,000
H 96 in W 94.75 in D 20 in
Poul Cadovius for Cado/Royal System 3-Bay Wall Unit in Brazilian Rosewood
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed in the late 1960s by Poul Cadovius, this 2nd generation wall unit was produced by Cado during the same time period. Cado as a company was founded when Poul began selling his...
Glass, Rosewood
Sold
H 78.94 in W 96.07 in D 15.95 in
Danish Modern 3-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern 3-Bay Modular Teak Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern 3 bay shelving system model Royal. This is an original vintage floating bookcase desi...
Teak
1960s Danish Teak Modular Royal System Bookcase by Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Victoria, BC
A beautifully balanced example of Danish modern modular design, this 1960s Royal System wall unit by Poul Cadovius is crafted in warm teak with the lightness and flexibility the syst...
Teak
Sold
H 77.96 in W 190.56 in D 15.95 in
Danish 6-Bay Modular Teak Corner Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish 6-Bay Modular Teak Corner Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Large and impressive Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 6 bay L-shaped shelving system model Royal. This is...
Teak
Sold
H 68.9 in W 119.49 in D 9.45 in
Danish Walnut Shelving System Royal by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Walnut Shelving System Royal by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1950s. This is an early version of the Royal wall unit by Poul Cadovius with beautiful stained walnut veneered shelves...
Walnut
Sold
H 86 in W 96.25 in D 19 in
1960s Brazilian Rosewood Modular Bookcase System Cado by Poul Cadovius
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Victoria, BC
A breathtaking 1960s Brazilian rosewood Cado wall unit by Poul Cadovius. This rare configuration showcases some of the finest rosewood...
Rosewood
Poul Cadovius Cado Danish Modern Shelf System Wall Unit
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Danish Modern Poul Cadovious Wall Mounted Unit with Secretary Desk or Bar. 96.5w 80h rails
Wood
Sold
H 97.64 in W 125.99 in D 22.05 in
Large four-part bookcase, by Poul Cadovius, Editions CADO, Denmark, circa 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Paris, FR
Cado shelving system by Poul Cadovius in exotic wood veneer, composed of: – 4 rack panels: H 248 cm (97.6 in) x W 80 cm (31.5 in) x D 5 cm (1.97 in). – 1 cabinet with 4 compartments, blue-gray and black background: H 56 cm (22 in) x W 80 cm (31.5 in) x D 24 cm (9.5 in). – 1 empty cabinet. H 56 cm (22 in) x W 80 cm (31.5 in) x D 24 cm (9.5 in). – 2 cabinets with two sliding glass doors and glass...
Wood
Sold
H 78.75 in W 94.49 in D 14.57 in
Poul Cadovius, Teak Royal System, Scandinavian Midcentury, Denmark 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Göteborg, SE
Poul Cadovius designed the Royal System shelving system in 1948. It was one of the world's first shelves that hung on the wall, freeing up floor space. The shelving system quickly be...
Metal
Sold
H 79.73 in W 190.56 in D 12.8 in
Vintage Danish Oak Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Oak Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 6 bay shelving system model Cado. This is a original vintage floating bookcase...
Oak
Sold
H 95.67 in W 94.89 in D 15.75 in
Vintage Danish 3-Bay Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish 3-Bay Palisander Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 3 bay shelving system model Cado with back panels. This is a origi...
Rosewood
Sold
H 76.19 in W 157.88 in D 18.9 in
Vintage Danish 5-Bay Rosewood Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s.
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish 5-Bay Palisander Modular Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius for Cado 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 5 bay shelving system model Cado with back panels. This is a origi...
Rosewood
Poul Cadovius teak bookcase, 1960's
By Poul Cadovius
Located in LYON, FR
Poul Cadovius Royal System bookcase Modular bookcase from the 1960s in teak by Poul Cadovius Royal System. A classic Danish wall unit. The shelves and cabinets can then be inserted a...
Teak