Poul Cadovius for Royal System Wall Unit / Book Shelves in Teak, Denmark, 1950s
View Similar Items
Poul Cadovius for Royal System Wall Unit / Book Shelves in Teak, Denmark, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer),Royal System (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 78.75 in (200 cm)Width: 94.49 in (240 cm)Depth: 18.9 in (48 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 15
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Amsterdam, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3940321072432
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.
- Poul Cadovius for Royal System Wall System Book Shelves in Teak, Denmark, 1950sBy Poul Cadovius, Royal SystemLocated in Amsterdam, NLLarge freestanding wall unit by Poul Cadovius for Royal system. With 4 black metal risers and teak veneer cabinets and shelves. 1x cabinet with sliding doors 42.5 x 37,5 x 160 cm ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal
- 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
- Vintage Nisse Strinning for String Pinewood Shelving System, Sweden, 1960sBy String Design AB, Nils Nisse Strinning, Poul CadoviusLocated in Amsterdam, NLVintage Nisse Strinning for string pinewood shelving system, Sweden, 1960s This shelving system with its minimalistic looks, was designed by Swedish a...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
$824 Sale Price20% Off - Rosewood Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Mobelfabrik, Denmark 1950'sBy Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai KristiansenLocated in Amsterdam, NLLarge rosewood wall unit with rosewood back plates. The cabinet has some traces of use like stains, but no veneer damage. There are 2 holes in the back plates, one for the lamp and...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsRosewood
- William Watting for Fristho Wall Unit, the Netherlands 1950'sBy Fristho, William WattingLocated in Amsterdam, NLHigh quality wooden wall unit with brass hooks. Three cabinets and seven shelves. 7 x shelves: x cm 1x cabinet glass doors: cm (LxDxH) 1 x des...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsBrass
- Black and White Metal Book Shelves Attrb. to Tomado, Holland, 1950'sBy TomadoLocated in Amsterdam, NLFree standing book shelves in black and white metal. Some rust spots on the white shelves.Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 useful three-bay teak shelving system offers a wide variety of storage and ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Poul Cadovius Teak Royal Wall System DenmarkBy Poul Cadovius, RoyalLocated 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
$2,983 / set - 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