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.
$1,800 / item
Willy Guhl Mirror
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Willy Guhl mirror with fantastic patina'd thick signature cement frame and new mirror 2 sizes available / multiple quantities.
Cement
$2,200 / item
Rectangle Willy Guhl Mirror
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Rectangle Willy Guhl mirror with fantastic patina'd thick signature cement frame and new mirror 2 sizes available / multiple quantities.
Cement
Circular Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very cool and unique circular Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland in the 1...
Cement
Willy Guhl Rectangular Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous rectangular Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland in the 1960’s. Custom glass/mirror was professionally hand ...
Concrete
Frameless Rectangle Mirror
Located in London, England
Narrow frameless mirror. U.K circa 1950.
Glass
$2,000
H 30 in W 31 in D 1 in
Italian 1960s Circular Mirror with Square Smoky-Brown Glass Mirror Frame
By Cristal Arte
Located in San Francisco, CA
Amazing Mid-Century wall mirror with a double-layer crystal frame. This fantastic piece was produced in Italy during the 1960s and it is attributed to Cristal Arte. 55 lbs.
Mirror, Smoked Glass
Bassett Mirror Company, Inc., Wall Mirror
By Bassett Furniture
Located in Medina, OH
Bassett Mirror Company, Inc., Wall Mirror. A functional and decorative statement mirror! Add timeless elegance to your space with this vintage Bassett Wall Mirror. Featuring a dis...
Mirror
Cristal Art Rectangular Turquoise Beveled Mirror, Italy, 1960s
By Cristal Arte
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning rectangular mirror with a gorgeous and vibrant turquoise mirrored crystal frame. This enchanting mirror was designed by Cristal Art and made in Italy during the 1960s. The ...
Glass, Art Glass, Mirror
Victorian Rectangle Mirror with Flowers on Grid
Located in Malibu, CA
Pretty little framed mirror with new backing & wire. Aesthetic movement frame with a geometric background with overlaid pattern of flower blossom and leaves hand painted in 2 ton...
Gesso, Mirror, Pine
Rectangular Rattan Mirror, France 1960s
Located in London, GB
A delicate rattan motif mirror , France 1960s This item is available in 2 sizes Here Measures: H 57cm x W 46cm x D 2cm
Rattan, Mirror, Bamboo
$5,654
H 3.35 in Dm 31.5 in
Exceptional Mid-Century Modern Mosaic Framed Circular Wall Mirror, Italy, 1960s
Located in Munich, DE
Spectacular, extra large Mid-Century Modern circular wall mirror with mosaic frame. Designed and manufactured in 1960s, Italy. Executed in brass sheet and mirrored glass. Conditio...
Metal
$1,929Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.01 in W 24.02 in D 1.38 in
Large Bamboo Rattan Rectangular Mirror, Spain 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Rectangular large mirror, bamboo, rattan Eye-catching rectangular mirror handcrafted with bamboo cane. Spain, 1960s. Rectangular frame made of bamboo with wicker accents on the corne...
Bamboo, Rattan, Mirror
Italian Blue Mirror, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
This mirror dates from the 1960s. The piece is from Italian origin.
Glass, Mirror
$1,788Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 23.63 in D 1.58 in
Franco Albini Style Rattan Bamboo Rectangular Mirror, 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Midcentury rectangular mirror, Rattan & Bamboo Eye-catching Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini style handcrafted bamboo rattan mirror. Italy, 1960s. This mirror features a double bamboo rectangular frame with wavy rattan decorations between the bamboo canes. This bamboo mirror will be a nice addition placed in a bathroom with a pair of wall lights at both sides or placed over a console table or vanity table. This mirror is in excellent vintage condition. Overall dimensions: 75 cm H x 60 cm W x 4 cm D Glass measures: 45 cm H x 28,5 cm W We are specialists in mirrors and sunburst mirrors Rattan mirror // rectangular mirror // Mid-Century Modern mirror // Albini style mirror...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wicker
$2,499
H 34.65 in W 26.38 in D 1.19 in
Rattan Large Rectangular Mirror with Geometric Frame, Spain 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid 20th Century Spanish Rattan Wall Mirror Gorgeous Tiki style rectangular mirror handcrafted with bamboo cane. Spain, 1960s. Highly decorative handcrafted bamboo frame with geometr...
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan, Mirror
Oval Mirror Clad Mirror
By Stephen Cavallo
Located in New York, NY
Oval metal clad mirror. Tin antiqued finish. Clear centre mirror panel with bevel. Overall size: H 32" (81cm) x W 22" (56cm).
Metal, Tin
Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror with Spikes, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Round bowl with vertical spikes. Substantial concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factor...
Cement
Rectangular Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous rectangular Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland in the 1960’s. Custom...
Cement
Large Square Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental shallow square Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Substantial concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland ...
Cement
Rectangular Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous rectangular Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Substantial concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland in the 19...
Cement
Square Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful square Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland in the 1960’s and mir...
Cement
Rectangular Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous rectangular Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland in the 1960’s and mir...
Cement
Triangular Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fabulous triangular Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland in the 1960’s and ...
Cement
Circular Willy Guhl Concrete Mirror, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very cool and unique circular Willy Guhl concrete mirror. Concrete vessel originally produced at the Eternit factory in Switzerland in the 1...
Cement
Collection of 34 Willy Guhl Concrete Mirrors, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Absolutely stunning wall art made up of 34 Willy Guhl concrete cylinders with hand cut glass mirrors inside. Handmade in Switzerland with varying diameters and heights. The mirrors a...
Cement
Willy Guhl 32" Mirror
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Willy Guhl mirror Frame is made of signature concrete compound Rich patina from age and use New mirror Currently set up for horizontal mounting Addit...
Cement