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Willy Guhl for Eternit Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Planter, 1970s, Signed

About the Item

This designer on-trend architectural 23.75" long rectangular concrete planter is by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, crafted in the 1970s Switzerland and signed and dated underneath. This special low-profile rectangle-shaped concrete planter has a patinated natural exterior finish and organic aging over decades of UK climate. Excellent planter size for a variety of various uses such as succulents, plants, weeping grass with the planter on a stand, balcony privacy hedge, or any other outdoor decorative use. Scalloped ends on the base allow for ease of relocation. Consider using this Willy Guhl Concrete Planter Pot in a Architectural, Postmodern, Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern or Danish Modern garden, yard 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. Condition: Sturdy and structurally sound. Has beautiful antiquing and patina throughout from decades of organic aging which can include minor chipping, stains or other blemishes however this lightly distressed look is common, expected and desirable for these early production originals. Some of, but not all, examples exhibit light stable cracks. Since Eternit used a fibrous concrete material the cracks are stable and the planters are usable, to further provide stability we have added a bonding material to strengthen those areas on the couple examples that have light cracks. Measurements:: H 6" x W 23.75" x D 6".

Creator:

Eternit (Maker),Willy Guhl (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 6 in (15.24 cm)Width: 23.75 in (60.33 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Concrete

Place of Origin:

Switzerland

Period:

1970-1979

Date of Manufacture:

1970s

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Sturdy and structurally sound. Beautiful antiquing and patina from decades of natural aging which can include minor chipping, stains or other blemishes however this lightly distressed look is common, expected and desirable on original examples.

Seller Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Reference Number:

Seller: 12R1-61stDibs: LU1330217724941

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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.