We learn about the two very collectible types:
‘Royal System’ and ‘System Cado’
Continuing my research into midcentury modern shelving systems, Cado “floating” wall systems are now also in my sites. Like the String System that recently profiled, Cados are Scandinavian-designed — and they are hot collectibles. Unlike Strings, you cannot get them new today, so you must be on the lookout. You know how I say that at estate sales, you need to look to the windows for potentially lovely window treatments? Well now, I add to that list: Look to the walls for potentially valuable shelving systems. Above: Christa’s Cado Wall System. Continue for more views of her Cado… for historical info about this wall system… and for shopping tips.
Christa’s Cado wall system:
Christa writes:
Hi Pam –
I don’t have the String system, but the similar, all wood version of the Cado system…interesting that such similar ideas all were designed at around the same time .
I ended up getting mine from CraigsList, but it did take months and months to find it.
The reason…well my wonderful mid century split level has some floors that are, well, wobbly if you walk to hard…especially the dining room. My vintage blonde china cabinet was great, except that every time somebody walked by it, it would sway and things would clank and clunk inside (it made me afraid for my grandmother’s china!)
So a teak Cado system, that attached to the wall ( they have floor standing ones as well) Solved the problem. Too bad the wobbly floor itself is not so easy to fix!This type of system is so flexible (actually have Elfa in my daughters room and our study) and can work just about anywhere you want to put it!
I took these a while ago, I have done some “tweaking” since I took these, especially with the Viking glass, ( LOVE Viking Epic…I have gotten slightly addicted) I got some more pieces, I move things around…it is a constant thing.
I have another wall-mount and one other cabinet for the Cado, but as you can see, two bays were all I had space for or need , but I have them safely tucked away in case I change my mind and want to put this somewhere else.The “down side” to this (the Cado)…actually getting it on the wall…if your measurements are not PERFECT, the dowels on the back of the cabinets will not go in the holes. I learned that my studs are not straight in the walls…as if I got the upright in a stud at the top, it would not go in a stud at the bottom. It took about 4 hours, 3 people,( myself, DH, and a very patient and tall friend ) several bruises each and much cursing to get it up. I would assume that when the system was new there was some sort of template, so you could easily get things lined up, but those are long gone I fear.
Thank you, Christa, for sharing these photos and advice. Your home is drop dead gorgeous!!
About the Cado wall system
I went searching all over the internet trying to piece together a timeline history of the Cado system. The timeline is incomplete, I note* where I am missing info or am confused.
- According to the 20th Century forum, the official name of this design is the Royal System. Although then I read there was also a design called System Cado. Confused*. In any case, these were designed by the Dutch architect Poul Cadovius, and manufactured by Cado, Cadovius’ eponymous company.
- I found a Wikipedia entry for Poul Cadovius. It appears to be in Danish, and the translate pop up is not popping. However, I think I can read that Cadovius died just last year, 2011. He lived to age 99! I also am going to guess that the Cado wall unit was spotlighted (introduced???) at the Milan Trienniele in 1957? Can anyone translate for me?
- I scanned the Wiki on Danish Modern Design — and he does not seem to be mentioned. It is interesting — the Cado wall units seem to be very popular — very well known — but there is very little information I can find overall on Poul Cadovius, Cado manufacturing, and the history of these units.
- At Made-Good — a site about Danish design — they describe the impetus of the Royal System: “Poul Cadovius, was in the fifties looking for a furnishing system which would give a maximum of comfort, underline the personal atmosphere of the interior, was easy to assembly, offer a lot of combination possibilities and made the living space larger.” They add that, “In the late 60s [1964, another post indicates] he (Cadovius) (als0) bought the famous manufacturer France and Sons and produced many more furniture under the label of Cado.” Cadovius/Cado went on to produce a variety of other furniture designs.
- This Design Addict forum (now offline) says the first Cado was a freestanding system — they have a photo — and that it was designed in 1955. Its classifieds section also indicated that the Cado system was available in a number of woodgrains — teak, walnut, mahogany, rosewood… — as well as white. You can also see the variety of components.
- The Good Mod adds that, “These systems could be ordered from catalogs and furniture stores in the 1960?s – 70?s. There were many different types of cabinets, shelves, lights, standards or uprights and styles. Whether you needed a desk, a table, a stereo cabinet, china cabinets or a chest of drawers, you could customize the system to fit your needs.”
- Looks like Roche Bobois started distributing the Cado system in 1962. [I’m confused about when Cado manufacturing came into the picture.] Note, they say it marks the end of conformity in shelving sizes, “The break in conventional sizes has just begun.”
- On this forum I read that there are two designs of the Cado system — one with metal fixings, one with wood. Here is an edited excerpt: [One design] has the metal fixings and supports which hang in the sides of the wall battens. Here is a clear example. [The other design] has wooden supports with angled wooden dowels in the back which fix into angled holes in the front of the wall battens. (Christa has this all-wood system; here is another clear example. The joinery involved means these systems are often considered more desireable. This also means it’s a nightmare to put up as there is zero tolerance. The [system with metal fixings] is much more forgiving and is easier to find. *Still confusion over which was called Royal System vs. System Cado. Confused*.
- I cannot find any information on when sales of the Royal System ended.
- Interesting article — more info about Poul Cadovius’ career here. A photo too. Scroll to “The Story Behind Circulhuset” about half way through the PDF. In short, she says Cadovius was a well-known and prolific designer, with 400 patents. She also says that Cadovius had gone bankrupt by 1981.
- But golly gee, looky here, the Cadovius’ Abstracta modular shelving, designed in the 1960s, still is for sale — looks like it’s manufactured in K-zoo! That’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Elvis still lives, btw. The Abstracta appears to be mostly targeted at the retail display market, but there are a few pieces designed for home: The cube table! Of course, we all recognize the cube table!
And… how’s this for some loveliness — a video that shows the original turntable and speakers:
Cado wall systems buying guide:
My tips:
- Cado systems seem to be well known among dealers and collectors. They are very recognizable to the infomed — which now includes you. However, that means, that if a dealer or collector gets one in-hand, he or she will price it accordingly — likely starting at $1,000 or more, depending on the pieces available and the condition.
- If you are looking for a bargain, I’d say try estate sales and vintage stores, especially those in smaller cities or towns where they be fewer buyers tuned into the mid mod. Look to the walls! Keep your eyes peeled! I tend to think that Cados were pretty popular back in the day — they are out there to be discovered.
- You can also watch craigslist. Search Cado, teak, danish modern, midcentury, shelves, wall unit… etc. Mix up your terms. For example, I spotted this unit for sale in the New York City area, and the seller gave me permission to feature the photo here:
Cado wall system with desk, $1250 (link now gone): Beautiful and practical Danish modern teak wall system designed by Poul Cadovius. This system as shown in the photos is particularly rare as it comes with a separate drop-leaf desk. The condition overall is in good condition with a few scapes and bumps that comes with age. [Thanks to the seller for giving me permission to feature this photo.}
- You can also find Cado wall units on ebay and etsy — but you will likely not be able to see what you are buying in person, of course.
So there you have it: Cado wall systems. Paol Cadovius, well done!
Steven Philips says
V:
Can’t remember the feet.
We never sold that configuration but Yigal will know if existed either here in the US or in Europe or both.
Trying to describe wood is tough:
Teak will run to yellowish-brown, rosewood is dark reddish-brown, and walnut is just brown…
SP
Steven Philips says
Hi Vivian:
Royal System for sure but a question to Yigal…
The “foot system” holding this up…
We only sold RS in teak. This appears to be in walnut.
Did both woods have this base available?
Steve
Vivian says
Hi Steve and Yigal.
The feet are exactly why I wasn’t sure about the shelves. I can’t seem to find a picture of them.
You mentioned the feet being walnut. Could you please tell me the type of wood used for the rest of it? I’ve seen teak and rosewood mentioned on here, but I can’t tell the difference.
And is there any way to tell when this was made?
Thanks very much for your time 🙂
Vivian
Yigal Zohar says
YES!
Vivian says
Hi. Does anybody know if this set of shelves is Cado? It looks like the Royal system, but it is completely freestanding as the legs stick out back and front.
I’d like to sell this and want to make sure I have the proper info on it before I do.
Any help would be appreciated 🙂
https://plus.google.com/photos/117471183768430708057/albums/5869873760654265457
Yigal Zohar says
Hi Vivian,
What the photos show is Royal System. Cado is all wood, including brackets No metal what-so-ever.
Yigal
Richard Boerner says
Hi Pam,
In 1973 my wife and I bought a three bay rosewood System Cado (I still have the Cado brochure). The system includes the desk, three drawer cabinet, display cabinet with the two glass shelves and sliding glass doors, magazine shelf, three or four nine inch shelves, two 12 inch shelves, five of the solid rosewood wall attach sticks, and all of the wood angle brackets. The beechwood pins on all of the items are intact, and everything is in excellent condition. We haven’t used the system for the past twenty years, and have kept it in a controlled storage environment.
We were thinking that we might like to sell it for the right price, but we don’t know what that might be. Would appreciate any help along that line from you or your readers. Thank you.
Regards,
Richard Boerner
Huntington Beach, CA
Yigal Zohar says
Hi Pam,
I was the operations manager for Cado/Royal System USA from 1973 through 1982. I worked with the company for many years before they asked me to join them.
Paul Cadovious, a Danish designer, was a pioneer in taking furniture off the floor and saving floor space in the shrinking European apartments. That included a desk units, a bar units, and much more.
He started with crude shelves and cabinets (with doors hanging with chains), to using more and more sophisticated hardware, some specially designed. The name of his company was Royal System. The cabinets had two metal brackets in the back that hung on two metal pins inserted int the side of the rails. The shelves rested on metal pins in the back and were suspended with metal brackets in the front.
He later designed what he called System Cado. It was an all wood system, where both shelves and cabinets used diagonal dowels inserted into diagonal holes in the uprights. All units could be moved up, down, and sideways by the customers themselves.
At the time, his factory was the largest factory maker in Denmark. He had centers, wholly owned , all over the world. We only ran the American part, and had offices, showrooms, and a sales force in New York, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angelle. The rest of the country was served by wonderful, commissioned sales reps.
Paul Cadovious’ company was very successful, and he, being very proud and very stubborn, decided to spread, and purchased an existing free standing Danish furniture maker by the name of France and Son, with the furniture sold through his existing network.
That was successful, too, but he wanted more. That is when he purchase a Danish metal system maker, Abstracta.
That was not a natural match, and didn’t fare so well. He, while running his empire with an iron fist, started designing prefabricated bus stop that were not well received by the Danes in the street.
He then started to branch into real estate, and started losing money, especially a house called the Circle House. Since he brought into the Danish economy much foreign currency, and the government underwrote some of his operations, they asked him to stop losing money and get out of the real estate business. But no one could tell him what to do, not even his government. So they broke up his company, and all the parts were sold separately.
The profitable part, the wood furniture, was grabbed very quickly by three of his previous heads of the Cado company, like the previous sales and production managers, who could not stand Cadovious’ very strong and stubborn personality, but knew the company well. Once he was not in the picture, they felt comfortable buying it knowing its value.
They then started selling the wholly owned worldwide branches, made a lot of money, and closed the factory. For example, the American part was sold to a West Coast furniture maker, owned by a wealthy gentleman who was also the Swedish honorary consul.
The end of the company followed soon after.
Pam, I have only told you the minimum necessary to give you the flavor of the man and the company. I have many more stories, both in the USA and in Denmark. If you want to know more, please send me an email.
Yigal Zohar
pam kueber says
Yigal, thank you so much for this information — it’s terrific! I will email you when I get a chance. Thank you!!!
jason orans says
hi yigal – i have a question about the “basket weave” cabinets for the royal system that open to make a desk. what is the black metal wine-rack-looking apparatus on the inside left of the cabinet intended to do? i can’t figure that out.
many thanks,
jason
Yigal Zohar says
For bottles!
Yigal
Rurh Miller says
we have not been able to use our free-standing Cado tension poles because they are about 95″ long and our ceilings are several inches lower. How can we adjust them to fit a 90″ ceiling? Or would you advise us to sell the system which has wood brackets and a variety of teak shelves?
Yigal Zohar says
Dear Ruth,
The choice is obviously yours. But, if you choose to keep the system, here is what you need to do:
1. Measure the depth of the hole in the top of the pole. Write it down as DISTANCE 1.
2. Insert the spring first, then the metal plate/stem (with the two screw holes in the plate and no holes in the stem) into the top of the pole.
3. Insert the metal plate/stem with the holes in the stem (and with the small metal pin and metal ring that covers it, into the furthest hole from the flat plate) into the bottom hole.
4. Measure the entire assembly, and determine how much it is longer than the ceiling height. Write it down as DISTANCE 2.
5. Remove the upper metal plate/stem and the spring from the top hole.
6. Cut the upper part of the wooden poles by the amount of DISTANCE 2. You can re-shape the cut end of the wooden pole to resemble the original shape of the end of the piece that you cut, but it is not necessary.
7. Re-drill the hole in the top of the pole to be of the same depth as it was in the original pole, DISTANCE 1.
8. Insert the spring first, then the metal plate/stem into the top hole that you have just drilled.
8. You are now ready for the installation.
9. When the installation is done, MAKE SURE that you anchor each plate into the ceiling with two screws to secure it. If you have the original screws, use them. Else, use any short screws that will fit in the small holes and bite into the ceiling.
Yigal
Ruth Miller says
Yigal Zohar,
Many thanks for the clear directions about what we need to do to make our Cado poles fit the lower ceiling height. We will be trying them out in the next few months following our move. I am lucky indeed to have found you! Thank you again for helping us salvage our Cado system! Ruth Miller
krista says
I have what i believe is a royal system, 1 bay, it has two shelves and the drawer unit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/108364172@N04/
The only thing is the long metal pieces. I can’t fathom how they might install..
any suggestions? or perhaps this is not a royal system?
Steven Philips says
To all:
Coincidently a friend just sent me a photo of a proported “Royal System” in what appears to be a painted (white) finish. Believe the piece is located in Europe.
Have any of you, especially you who sold Royal, ever heard of this?
Steve
Steven Philips says
Vivian:
Well, speaking for me, “great” is exactly how I try to describe myself whenever I meet anyone. Oddly only my dog agrees — and that’s because I hold her food dish..
Seriously I can’t remember ever seeing a trademark anywhere. The detailing of how the shelves are supported is really the giveaway…. Cado from below and Royal System from above.
Steve
Steven Philips says
Vivian:
Get a photo in to Pam so that she can publish it.
There are several of us out here who can identity a Royal System, or a Cado, if we can get a look at it!
Difficult otherwise.
Steve V
pam kueber says
Vivian: I cannot process individual photos like this. Suggested: Post photo of a photo sharing site. Then post link here.
Vivian says
Hi Pam and Steve. I will send in a pic as soon as I can take one. It won’t be for another 2 weeks as I won’t be where the shelves are until then. This is very generous of you both. I was just looking for what the trademark would look like and where I’d find it, and instead you’re willing to look at a picture! You guys are great 🙂
Thanks very much
Vivian
Vivian says
Hi Pam. I’ve taken the pics, and hope they are enough to identify them. The vertical wood plank seen in some pics is part of a bookcase, not the shelves. I tried to take some pics of the metal details, top and bottom, the legs and the shelves in general.
Thank you 🙂
Vivian
https://plus.google.com/photos/117471183768430708057/albums/5869873760654265457
pam kueber says
I’m not an expert – but other folks in this thread sure appear to be!
Vivian says
Hi. I’ve found a shelving unit that sounds like it may be a Cado, or something similar. From looking on the web, it looks like a Royal System (has brass hangers) with ant legs (but the legs are wooden, not metal) It has 5 or 6 shelves. Also came with a handful of wooden dowels. It is a floorstanding unit.
How do I find out who made it? Is there a particular place I’d find a trademark?
Thanks for your time 🙂
Cece says
I bought a system in rosewood from Scan Furniture in Washington, D.C. 40 years ago. I still have about 9 shelves and the brackets and would love to sell them. Ideas?