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Willy Guhl Furniture

Swiss, 1915-2004

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.

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Creator: Willy Guhl
Midcentury Willy Guhl Spindle Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautifully aged spindle planter also known as a diabolo planter designed by Swiss architect, Willy Guhl, circa 1960. Suitable for indoors or out. We offer expedited, fully-insur...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl Square Square Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The perfectly patina'd square Willy Guhl planter Priced Individually.
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Incredible Concrete modular bookcase by Willy Guhl, Switzerland, 1960s Individual concrete cubes can be arranged in variety of shapes to suit whatever space. Wonderful warm patina ...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Planter by Willy Guhl, 20th Century
By Willy Guhl
Located in Greding, DE
Rectangular planter bowl with concave indented bottom and convex wall. Signs of age and use.
Category

20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Plaster

Willy Guhl for Eternit Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Handle Planter, circa 1968
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This designer on-trend architectural rectangular concrete planter is by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, crafted circa 1968 Switzer...
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Pair of Vintage Swiss Jars Willy Guhl 60s Eternite Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Lyon, FR
Pair of jars by the Swiss designer Willy Guhl produced by Eternit in the 1960s. Fiber cement structure typical of the designer's garden furniture. Very nice patina of time that we wa...
Category

1960s Swiss Brutalist Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Monumental 38" Willy Guhl for Eternit 'Diablo' Concrete Planter, c 1968, Signed
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly gorgeous 38" tall and 22" diameter 'Diablo' concrete spindel planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968, Switzerland. This sculptural hourglass shaped concrete planter has a white exterior finish. Signed inside with Eternit numbers. We have a large collection of Willy Guhl for Eternit pots, planters, garden objects, jardinières, and patio furniture. We always have inventory in Diablo's, Tilted and Cone Planters, box and rectangular Guhl...
Category

1960s Swiss Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Planter, Willy Guhl
By Willy Guhl
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Large and beautiful old garden pot / jardiniere, by the legendary Swiss designer Willy Guhl. A good conical design and with fantastic weathered patina....
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Swiss Planter by Willy Guhl, Produced by Eternit Brazil, 1960s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Clifton, NJ
This vase is part of the series of Eternit fiber-cement vases designed by Willy Guhl (1915–2004), the industrial design pioneer in Switzerland who also created the remarkable Loop ch...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl Stacked Planters or Vents
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of architectural elements, designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit. Originally used as vents, they can be repurposed as attractive plant...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

1960s French Concrete Planter by Willy Guhl
By Willy Guhl
Located in High Point, NC
A concrete planter made in France, circa 1960, designed by Willy Guhl. A gentle tilt, which casts this sumptuously sculpted planter slightly askew, provides a playful yet graceful de...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Architectural Planter Conical Shape Midcentury Willy Guhl Eternit Plant Pot 195
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Mannheim, DE
1950's plant pot designed by Swiss architects Willy Guhl and Anton Bee in 1951. It is made of stone grey fiber cement. For outdoor use only! Dimensions: Height 9.05" (23 cm), d...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Handkerchief Elephant Ear Planter with Loss to Edge
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in London, GB
Willy Guhl for Eternit large handkerchief elephant ear concrete planter with loss to edge Loss to one wave of the rim, shown clearly in the images. Will sit snugly against a wall an...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Handle Planter
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This designer on-trend architectural 23.5" long rectangular concrete planter is by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, crafted circa 1...
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Architectural Planter Midcentury Willy Guhl Eternit Plant Pot, 1950s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Mannheim, DE
1950s planter designed by Swiss architects Willy Guhl and Anton Bee in 1951. It is the lower version of the so called "Spindel" and perfect for smaller terraces or gardens. It is mad...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Architectural Planter Midcentury Willy Guhl Eternit Plant Pot, 1950s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Mannheim, DE
1950s planter designed by Swiss architects Willy Guhl and Anton Bee in 1951. It is the lower version of the so called "Spindel" and perfect for smaller terraces or gardens. It is mad...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl for Eternit, Mid-Century Modern Concrete Garden Handkerchief Planter
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in London, GB
Willy Guhl for Eternit, a very rare 21 inch tall Mid-Century Modern sculptural concrete garden Handkerchief elephant ear planter. It looks like a large seed pod and will look very sp...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl for Eternit, a Mid-Century Modern Concrete Rectangular Garden Planter
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in London, GB
Willy Guhl for Eternit, a Mid-Century Modern concrete rectangular garden planter with rectangular concave decoration with opposing triangul...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Ghul planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Willy Guhl planter extra large size edited by Eternit Called Diabolo.
Category

20th Century French Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl Loop Chairs
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pair of Willy Guhl "Loop" chairs Original Eternit production - Switzerland, circa 1950s. Priced as a pair.
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Planter, Willy Guhl
By Willy Guhl
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Elegant outdoor pot/jardiniere, in an exceptionally rare and sought after version, by the legendary Swiss designer Willy Guhl. Formed in a charming jar des...
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Large Planter in the Shape of Flower Pots by Willy Guhl for Eternit
By Willy Guhl
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Large planter designed by famous Swiss artist, designer and architect Willy Guhl. The planter has the archetypical shape of flower pots, but is much larger. It is 40 cm (15.75 in) hi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Pair of Vintage Loop Armchairs by Willy Guhl for Eternit, Switzerland, 1950
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in PARIS, FR
Loop armchair by Willy Guhl for the Swiss company Eternit. Their collaboration began in the early 1950s with a desire on the part of the Swiss firm to create garden furniture from th...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl 'Marmite' Model Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
Footed planters with handles in the shape of cauldrons, known as the 'Marmite' model by Swiss designer Willy Guhl. These beautifully weathered planters were produced by Eternit in th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Massive Willy Guhl Elephant Ear Handkerchief Cement Planter for Eternit
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in London Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire
A rustic and sculptural carved hollowed tree trunk barrel sitting on three feet, most probably dating from the early 20th century. Condition, in good order, some minor imperfectio...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Cauldron Planter, Willy Guhl, 1960
By Willy Guhl
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Handsome French garden planter, made of eternite in a gorgeous weathered hue, and designed by Willy Guhl. Cauldron shaped, with side handles, and raised from the ground by three smal...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl Style Jardiniere
By Willy Guhl
Located in New Orleans, LA
Iconic Willy Guhl "Tilted" planter with beautiful patina.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Rare Set of 7 Willy Guhl Cauldron Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Southampton, GB
Amazing rare set of 7 weathered Willy Guhl cauldron planters Switzerland circa 1960 Height 46 cm Mouth Diamter - 29 cm Handle to Handle Width - 53 cm All the Willy Guhl planters on the website are in good weathered...
Category

20th Century European Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Pair of Loop Armchairs by Willy Guhl for Eternit Switzerland 1950s
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in PARIS, FR
Armchair loop by willy guhl for the Swiss company eternit. Their collaboration began in the early 50's with a desire on the part of the Swiss firm to create garden furniture from the...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl Style Jardiniere
By Willy Guhl
Located in New Orleans, LA
Iconic Willy Guhl "tilted" planter.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Architectural Planter Midcentury Willy Guhl Eternit Plant Pot, 1950s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Mannheim, DE
1950's planter designed by Swiss architects Willy Guhl and Anton Bee in 1951. It is the lower version of the so called "Spindel" and perfect for smaller terraces or gardens. It is ma...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Planter, Willy Guhl
By Willy Guhl
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Large and beautiful old garden pot / jardiniere, by the legendary Swiss designer Willy Guhl. A good conical design and with fantastic weathered patina....
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl Low Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Willy Guhl low planters with shallow bowl that sits on matching base. Both planters have amazing patinas Priced individually.
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Puzzle Planter Set by Willy Guhl for Eternit Switzerland 1950s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in PARIS, FR
In 1951, Eternity AG is looking for external designers and asks Willy Guhl and his students to work on new plant containers. plant containers. Eternit, developed for the production ...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Diabolo Planter by Anton Bee and Willy Guhl for Eternit, Switzerland, 1950s
By Anton Bee, Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in PARIS, FR
In 1951, Eternity AG sought to collaborate with external designers and asked Willy Guhl and his students to work on new plant containers. Eternit, developed for the production of roo...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Diabolo Planter by Anton Bee and Willy Guhl for Eternit Switzerland, 1950s
By Anton Bee, Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in PARIS, FR
In 1951, Eternity AG sought to collaborate with external designers and asked Willy Guhl and his students to work on new plant containers. Eternit, developed for the production of roo...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Diabolo Planter by Anton Bee and Willy Guhl for Eternit, Switzerland, 1950s
By Anton Bee, Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in PARIS, FR
In 1951, Eternity AG sought to collaborate with external designers and asked Willy Guhl and his students to work on new plant containers. Eternit, developed for the production of roo...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Diabolo Planter by Willy Guhl & Anton Bee for Eternit Switzerland 1950s
By Anton Bee, Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in PARIS, FR
Attributed to Anton Bee and Willy Guhl for Eternit. In 1951, eternity ag sought to collaborate with outside designers and asked willy guhl and his students to work on new plant conta...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl Loop Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Willy Guhl Loop table is an icon of Swiss modernist furniture design. The Loop Table (also known as the Beach Table) was designed by Swiss in...
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Diabolo Planter by Anton Bee and Willy Guhl for Eternit Switzerland, 1950
By Willy Guhl
Located in PARIS, FR
In 1951, eternity ag sought to collaborate with outside designers and asked willy guhl and his students to work on new plant containers. eternit, developed for the production of roof...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl Vintage Jardiniere
By Willy Guhl
Located in Austin, TX
Jardiniere, from Switzerland, by Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968. This piece is made of free form concrete with the original lichen and patina.
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl: Concrete Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Willy Guhl: Concrete Planter. Switzerland, circa 1960.
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Vintage Willy Guhl Jardiniere
By Willy Guhl
Located in Austin, TX
Jardiniere, from Switzerland, by Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968. This piece is made of free form concrete with the original lichen and patina.
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl Saucer Bowl, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly decorative and large outdoor saucer-shaped planter designed by Industrial Design Pioneer Willy Guhl and manufactured by Eternit Ag, Switzerland in the 1960s. Sculpted from ...
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl, Concrete Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Willy Guhl: Concrete Planter Switzerland, circa 1960.
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Pair of Triangular Planters by Willy Guhl, 1960s, Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare pair of 1960’s triangular concrete planters designed by Swiss neo-functionalist and industrial design pioneer Willy Guhl for Eternit in Switzerland. Each multifaceted planter...
Category

1960s Swiss Industrial Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Architectural Planter Midcentury Willy Guhl Eternit Plant Pot, 1950s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Mannheim, DE
1950s planter designed by Swiss architects Willy Guhl and Anton Bee in 1951. It is the biggest version of the so called "Spindel" and perfect for terraces or gardens. It is made of s...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl and Robert Pansart Red Pod Chair in Cement, 1969
By Willy Guhl, Robert Pansart
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Extremely rare iconic pod chair attributed to Willy Guhl, Many experts agree that this Pod Chair is actually the work of Robert Pansart, better known for his mirrors than for this ma...
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl Loop Chair Set of Six '6' Plus Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Set of six (6) Original Willy Guhl loop chairs with side table sold as a period-original set. The Loop Chair was created by the Swiss designer Willy...
Category

1950s Swiss Industrial Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl, Pair of "Loop Chair" and Table, Eternit Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Berlin, DE
A set of iconic Loop chairs together with the matching table. Designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit, Switzerland. Executed in concret, the design dates from 1956, this set is manufact...
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Rare Willy Guhl Pedestal Planter, Switzerland, 1960s
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 1960s conical architectural planter designed by Swiss neo-functionalist and industrial design pioneer Willy Guhl for Eternit in Switzerland. Incredibly strong and robust, the...
Category

1960s Swiss Industrial Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl, Concrete Pair of Spindle Planters, Eternit, 1960s
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Berlin, DE
Willy Guhl, spindle planters, manufactured by Eternit in the 1960s. Very nice patina, rare lower model with larger diameter!
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl Square Pot
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Square concrete planter by Willy Guhl. Made in Switzerland in the 1960s. Great condition. Original coloring and patina. Classic square planter...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Willy Guhl Monumental Chalice Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique concrete planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Planter in the shape of a chalice, with a faceted rim and base. Extremely rare. Massive size. Minor damage to the undeside of p...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Monumental Willy Guhl Flower Pot, 1970s, Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental concrete flower pot by Willy Guhl. A natural grey concrete finish with minimal wear, this planter fits perfectly into any design story. Made...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Blue Cement Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Loop Coffee Table, 1995, Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Vienna, AT
Blue modern vintage Loop coffee table by Willy Guhl (1915-2004). This coffee table is very suitable for indoor and outdoor as a futuristic beautiful ...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Monumental Willy Guhl Concrete Urn, 1960s, Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare and beautiful concrete urn designed by Swiss neo-functionalist and industrial design pioneer Willy Guhl for Eternit in Switzerland. Painted green by a previous owner which ha...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Mid-Century Modern Conical Shaped Planter by Willy Guhl for Eternit
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Large planter designed by famous Swiss artist, designer and architect Willy Guhl. The planter has a conical shape. With its beautiful patina it will make a great statement on your ro...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Willy Guhl Furniture

Materials

Cement

Willy Guhl furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Willy Guhl furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of stone and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Willy Guhl furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 412 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 4 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Willy Guhl were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Eternit, and Ludwig Walser. Prices for Willy Guhl furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £160 and can go as high as £116,182, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £2,234.

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