Poul Cadovius 3-Piece Shelving System 'Abstracta', Denmark, 1960s
View Similar Items
Poul Cadovius 3-Piece Shelving System 'Abstracta', Denmark, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Cadovius (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 51.19 in (130 cm)Width: 96.07 in (244 cm)Depth: 14.18 in (36 cm)
- Style:Minimalist (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:Seller: 3-bay abstracta wall unit1stDibs: LU7893239209892
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.
- 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
- Poul Cadovius 3-Bay Wall Unit in Teak for Cado, Danish Design, 1960sBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Antwerpen, BEThree-column wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius and produced by Cado in Denmark around 1960. This shelving system with teak backplates is part of the luxurious Cado series, with woo...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsTeak
- 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
- Carl Aage Skov Rare Prototype Coffee Table, Denmark, 1960sLocated in Antwerpen, BECoffee table designed by Carl Aage Skov and produced in Denmark in the 1960’s. The table is made of a burl wood top and blonde teak wooden frame. This is a v...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsTeak, Burl
- Sewing Table with Drawer and Rattan Basket, Denmark, 1960sLocated in Antwerpen, BESide table designed and produced in Denmark in the 1960s. This trolley meant to be used as a sewing table. Wooden base with veneered finishings. Features a drawer and rattan basket. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsRattan, Wood
- Illum Wikkelso 3-Seater Sofa for Niels Eilersen, Denmark, 1960sBy Illum Wikkelsø, Niels EilersenLocated 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
- 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
- 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
- Original 1960 Poul Cadovius 'Abstracta' modular Shelf in chromed metal and GlassBy Poul CadoviusLocated in MONTREUIL, FROriginal Poul Cadovius “Abstracta” modular bookcase (not the re-edition). Designed for Royal System, England c. 1960. Features an elegant chromed tubular structure and glass shelves...Category
Vintage 1960s British Bookcases
MaterialsMetal
- Poul Cadovius Abstracta Style Stacking Shelving UnitBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Los Angeles, CAIncredible, Mid-Century standing shelving unit or room divider. Reminiscent of Poul Cadovius' 'Abstracta' system. Ten rearrangeable and stackab...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Poul Cadovius for Royal System Wall System Book Shelves in Teak, Denmark, 1950sBy Royal System, Poul CadoviusLocated 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
- Vintage Danish Oak Shelving System, 1960s.Located in Asaa, DKVintage Danish Oak Shelving System, 1960s. Wall unit with shelves in oak. The upright and the metal brackets are from the Poul Cadovius System R...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsOak