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Large 'Handkerchief' Concrete Planters by Willy Guhl for Eternit, c. 1968

About the Item

This beautiful pair of large sized (35" diameter) 'Handkerchief' concrete planters by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968 Switzerland has beautiful patina including fine moss and lichens along the upper edges. *Priced individually, we currently have two available in this size. If you are purchasing a single planter, please message us with which one you would like us to ship to you. Named the 'Handkerchief' planter (or 'Mouchoir' in French), but also known as the 'Elephant Ear' planter as there are two opposite corners that are flat and two opposite corners which flop downwards like elephant ears. These examples by Willy Guhl for Eternit are larger sized examples than commonly found. Excellent option for an interior designer looking for something special and unique to fill a patio, balcony or garden. We have many other Guhl's available including Diablo hourglass planters, rectangular balcony liner planters, fixed spindle planters and more. Contact us for our current stock. Original Guhls, like these, were made with a small amount of asbestos in the concrete mix as a fiber to provide strength, therefore we advise only using outside or in a well-ventilated room. While other dealers don't usually disclose this and generally state that it is safe, we would rather play on the safe side. Consider using this Willy Guhl for Eternit Handkerchief planter in an Architectural, Postmodern, Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern or Danish modern garden or penthouse apartment balcony but could also look fantastic in a Contemporary or Zen / Minimalism setting. Also consider mixing it up in a traditional, transitional, classical or Art Deco space with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an Apt choice in a commercial project such as an outdoor hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office balcony. MEASUREMENTS: H 14" x 35" Diameter CONDITION: Good vintage condition. Sturdy and structurally sound. Has beautiful patina throughout and age related wear including chips (each with a larger chip to one corner, see photos), scuffs, and scratches. Interior wells with drill holes.

Creator:

Willy Guhl (Designer),Eternit (Manufacturer)

Dimensions:

Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)Diameter: 35 in (88.9 cm)

Style:

Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Concrete

Place of Origin:

Switzerland

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

circa 1968

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Good vintage condition with plenty of age, wear and patina. See description for more details.

Seller Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU1330229407782

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Shop All Willy Guhl

Willy Guhl

Decades prior to the mass popularity of neo-industrial cement floors and furniture taking shape, there was Willy Guhl. The Swiss creative is considered one of the first “industrial” designers in his home country. He pioneered a rugged, organic style of modern furniture and decor — stylish planters, shapely seating and lots more — that remains widely coveted by many today.

Guhl was born in 1915 in Stein am Rhein and worked as a carpenter before beginning studies at the Zurich School of Applied Arts (known today as the Zurich University of the Arts), where he would go on to teach for nearly 40 years.

While Guhl is well-known for his range of provocative garden elements as well as his patio and outdoor furniture, today’s legion of mid-century modern enthusiasts are likely familiar with the designer’s iconic Loop chair (introduced in 1954). For this sculptural seat and other furnishings, Guhl tended toward industrial materials, which he bent and shaped into organic forms for a striking juxtaposition. Much of his work is crafted from either concrete or Eternit, a mixture of cement and asbestos developed by the Belgian company Etex, which, in the 1950s, commissioned Guhl and his students at the School of Applied Arts to conceive planters in the material. The resulting vessels — some hourglass-shaped, some in the form of handkerchiefs, all suitable for indoors or exteriors — remain some of Guhl’s most collectible pieces.

Guhl’s affiliation with the Swiss “neo-functional” movement centered on the idea of simplifying design without sacrificing form. According to Guhl, his mission was “achieving the most with the minimum of effort.”

In addition to his work as a designer, Guhl left his mark on subsequent creatives through his 39-year tenure at his alma mater, where he was instructor to the likes of Robert Haussmann, Kurt Thut and Bruno Rey. Modern-day shoppers at IKEA owe Guhl a debt of gratitude too. He was an early advocate of flat-pack furniture, championing its ability to make good design more widely accessible.

At its core, though, Guhl’s work was inherently human-centric: “At the center of my efforts, I put people and their living requirements,” he once said. “My products must be useful to people.” Guhl died in 2004 at the age of 89.

Find a range of vintage Willy Guhl furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.