Original 1960 Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' modular Shelf in chromed metal and Glass
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 35.04 in (89 cm)Width: 16.54 in (42 cm)Depth: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1960
- Condition:
- Seller Location:MONTREUIL, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7898238282172
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: Pantin, France
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Set of two German postmodern, Memphis wall lamps in Lucite and metalLocated in MONTREUIL, FRSet of two postmodern, Memphis wall lamps in Lucite and metal from Germany, c. 1980.Category
Vintage 1980s German Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal
- 1980s French Limited, Made-to-order Solid Oak Modular Coffee TablesLocated in MONTREUIL, FRA set of 3 modular coffee tables in solid oak by Redureau, France c. 1980. Redureau was a small, French edition house which produced in the 1970-80s limited edition furniture...Category
Vintage 1980s French Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsOak
- French "Maison Daum" crystal table lamp c. 1960By DaumLocated in MONTREUIL, FRA translucent crystal table lamp by Maison Daum, France c. 1960. Since 1878, Daum, the legendary glassmaker master, has kept alive for more than a century a love relationship with ...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCrystal
- Hand-forged brutalist "pique-cierges" France c. 1960Located in MONTREUIL, FRBrutalist wrought iron « pique-cierges » from France c. 1960. Hand-forged, beautiful patinaCategory
Vintage 1960s French Candlesticks
MaterialsIron, Wrought Iron
- Paire de tabourets tripodes brutalistes en bois massif vintage circa 1960Located in MONTREUIL, FRSculpturale paire de tabourets tripodes brutalises ne chêne massif. Travail artisanal français, taillés dans la masse à la gouge. Circa 1960. Dimensions: petit: h. 61 cm X d. 26...Category
Vintage 1960s French Brutalist Stools
MaterialsWood
- Suite de 4 tabourets Français Brutalistes artisanaux en bois massif Circa 1960Located in MONTREUIL, FRSpectaculaire suite de 4 tabourets brutalistes circa 1960. Travail artisanal Français (Dordogne) Les assises font 7cm d'épaisseur et sont en Chêne massif. ...Category
Vintage 1950s French Brutalist Stools
MaterialsWood
- Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' Free-Standing Shelf in Steel and GlassBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Glendale, AZPoul Cadovius’s “Abstracta” bookcases c. 1960’s. A sleek & sophisticated space age staple. Tall & wide enough for bigger décor, a record player, mc...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsSteel
- 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
- 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
- Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' Metal, Teak, Glass Modular Display Unit, Denmark 1960By Poul Cadovius, Royal SystemLocated in bergen op zoom, NLMinimal Danish design modular display shelving by Paul Cadovius Around 1960 Poul Cadovius made a huge impact on the shelving area of the Danish furniture industry – he designed a freestanding modular based shelving system in metal with endless combinations and able be assembled without using tools...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vitrines
MaterialsMetal
- Abstracta Modular Shelf by Poul Cadovius for Royal System Smoked Glass - 2 PcsBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Philadelphia, PAAbstracta Modular Shelf by Poul Cadovius for Royal System with Smoked Glass - 2 Pc Set. Item features 2 shelves with slight variation in shelf height, clean Modernist lines, great st...Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsChrome
- 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