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.
Willy Guhl Tall Puzzle Piece Planter, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic sculptural piece by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Tall planters shaped like jigsaw puzzle pieces. One is painted white while the other is in the...
Concrete
Willy Guhl for Eternit Concrete Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Willy Guhl for Eternit concrete planters.
Concrete
$3,500 / item
Massive Willy Guhl Biomorphic Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Massive sculptural biomorphic cement planter by Willy Guhl. Gorgeous planter for indoors or outside. Excellent patina. Multiples available. Priced individually.
Cement
$24,500
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 whateve...
Concrete
$8,800 / item
Willy Guhl Pod Chair
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Rare pod chairs by Willy Guhl Great sculptural form with patina'd concrete Sold separately - matching pair available
Cement
$4,400 / item
Willy Guhl Concrete Urn Planter, 1960's
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exceptional vintage outdoor planter designed by pioneering Swiss industrial designer Willy Guhl for Eternit circa 1960. This rare silhouette features a beautifully balanced biomor...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Octagonal Vase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete vase by Willy Guhl. Made of fiber cement. 8 sided with small base. Great vintage condition. Great oversized vase.
Cement
$10,500 / set
Willy Guhl Orange Concrete Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique set of painted concrete cubes in a pastel orange by Swiss architect and designer Willy Guhl. Handmade in the early 1960s in Switzerland. Produced by Eternit. Set of 5 cubes in...
Concrete
$22,500 / set
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. Includes a wonderful v...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Monumental Chalice Planter, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning concrete planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Faceted edges around the top and bottom. Planter in the shape of a chalice. Good vintage condition. Decades of age and patina...
Concrete
Large Midcentury Swiss Willy Guhl Spindle 'Diablo' Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
Large spindle or diablo planter designed by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. This planter has a beautiful hourglass shape made of all-weather fibrous cement. Wonderful aged lichen patina...
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
Monumental Willy Guhl 59" Adjustable Two-Piece Concrete Bowl Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic cement planter by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit. Large concrete pedestal base with massive concrete bowl that sits on top. Bowl can sit flat or angled in a multitud...
Cement
Brutalist planter, Willy Guhl for Eternit. Switzerland, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Barcelona, ES
Rectangular planter produced by the company "Eternit" in the 1960s, made of fiber cement, perfect for outdoor designs. Good original condition, with patina and marks that only the pa...
Cement
Willy Guhl 23" Concrete Bowl, 1960s Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic concrete bowl by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Beautiful patina and modulating salmon-colored paint to the surface of the underside. Very unusual size in 23" diam...
Concrete
Rectangular Balconia Planter Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
Rectangular planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Planter is made of cement and has good color and patina. Great lines and clean design. This planter would be magnificen...
Concrete
Blue Modern Sculptural 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 a futuristic beautiful coffee table or sofa table. The futurist...
Cement
Willy Guhl Concrete Peanut Planter, 1960s, Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental concrete basin planter by Willy Guhl. Handmade in Switzerland in the 1960s. Just under 4 feet in length. handmade in the shape of a peanut. P...
Concrete
Monumental Willy Guhl Eternit Pedestal Bowl Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This monumental pedestal bowl planter is an iconic example of mid-century modern garden design attributed to Swiss designer Willy Guhl, whose sculptural Eternit fiber cement planters...
Cement
$1,600 / item
Willy Guhl Quilted Concrete Trough Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete trough planters by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Just under 32" long. Factory drilled drainage holes. Perfect depth for narrow spaces. Eternit f...
Concrete
$700 / item
Willy Guhl Square Flower 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...
Cement
Willy Guhl 39" Concrete Trough Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oversized concrete trough planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Just over 39" long. Amazing patina to concrete and paint with factory drilled drainage...
Concrete
$4,200 / item
Willy Guhl Round Pedestal Planter, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly rare 1960s pedestal planters by Willy Guhl. Sturdy yet lightweight, the planters are sculpted from fiber cement with a hollow interior. Oval-shaped opening and base with a...
Concrete
Mid-Century Modern Stackable Planter Element by Willy Guhl for Eternit
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Stackable planter frames designed by Willy Guhl and manufactured by Eternit, Switzerland. These planters can be stacked or used separately. We have 6 on stock.
Cement
Willy Guhl Handkerchief Concrete Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Reinforced cement fiber board "Handkerchief" planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, Switzerland circa 1960's.
Concrete
$7,200 / set
Willy Guhl Modular Cement Cube Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic cement cubes by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl, for Eternit. 6 modular cubes made of fiber cement, can be arranged in a multitude of ways. Great for ...
Cement
$1,250 / item
Willy Guhl Concrete Trough Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete trough planters by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Just under 24" long. Factory drilled drainage holes. Perfect depth for narrow spaces. 33 availa...
Concrete
$4,200 / item
Monumental Goblet Planter, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental concrete goblet planter with an incredible patina. An unusual planter in a massive size. After spending decades in the elements, each goblet has great patina and weatherin...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Vase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful concrete vase by Willy Guhl. Thick walls with years of patina in a soft blue color. Delicate and classic lines that start with a thin tapered base and rise to a billowed ou...
Cement
Willy Guhl Saucer Planter on Stand
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
31" Willy Guhl saucer planter on stand for Eternit Floating saucer planter on base Sculptural garden vessel The base can be flipped upside down for use ...
Concrete
Mid-Century Modern Flat Planter by Willy Guhl for Eternit
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This planter is designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit of Switzerland. It is flat and slightly oblong and has a beautiful patina throughout. 1960s. Three available, listed separately.
Cement
Willy Guhl Large Concrete Table Lamp, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning concrete Willy Guhl lamp by Eternit. Concrete made in Swizterland. Newly fitted as a lamp, re-wired with a new custom linen shade with rounded edges and light diffusor on to...
Concrete
$2,800 / item
Willy Guhl Hourglass Pots
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Wonderful collection of concrete hourglass planters by the Swiss Architect, Willy Guhl. Great age, patina and coloring. Iconic sculptural planter or garden object. This listing is fo...
Concrete
$1,500 / item
Willy Guhl Concrete Trough Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete trough planters by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Just under 32" long. Factory drilled drainage holes. Perfect depth for narrow spaces. 21 availa...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Urn, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete urn by Willy Guhl. Rare model. In a beautiful washed out patina from layers of white paint which have worn down over the years. Urn has a delicate cement ridge around the mo...
Concrete
Vintage Willy Guhl Tilt Mid-Century Modern Concrete Planter
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This striking vintage concrete planter embodies the sculptural elegance and functional artistry made famous by Swiss designer Willy Guhl. Crafted in the mid-20th century, the piece f...
Concrete
$2,400 / item
Willy Guhl Red Hourglass Planters, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic brick colored 'Diablo' hourglass planters by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit. Varying degree of patina to paint revealing the mottled cement beneath. Great vintage cond...
Cement
Pair of Mid Century Round Grey Concrete Planters by Willy Guhl for Eternite AG
By Willy Guhl
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare pair of round oversized mid century concrete planters by Willy Guhl produced for Eternite AG in Swizerland, 1950s. In good original and matching condition with beautiful natura...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Urn, 1960s Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete urn by Willy Guhl. Rare model. In a beautiful heavy patina from decades in Swiss weather. Urn has a delicate cement ridge around the mouth as w...
Concrete
Swiss Mid Century Handkerchief Concrete Planter by Willy Guhl for Eternite AG
By Willy Guhl
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare oversized mid century and sculptural handkerchief concrete planter by Willy Guhl produced for Eternite AG in Swizerland, 1950s. In original with patina from age and use. I crack...
Concrete
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
$1,950 / item
Willy Guhl Large Tilted Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large tilted concrete planters by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl. Great patina and coloring to each planter. Excellent vintage condition. Great planter and standalone sculpture for indoo...
Concrete, Cement
Pair of Willy Guhl planters signed ETERNIT circa 1952
By Willy Guhl
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible pair in concrete planters by Willy Guhl signed ETERNIT circa 1952
Cement
Rare Willy Guhl “Spindel” Planter, Swiss Fiber Cement Garden Sculpture
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This authentic mid-century modern garden planter is the celebrated “Spindel” model by Willy Guhl, a defining example of Swiss modernist garden design from the mid-20th century. Chara...
Cement
Biomorphic Planter by Willy Guhl, 1960s Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Super unique and stunning biomorphic planter by Willy Guhl for Eternit AG. Amazing low freeform kidney like shape makes a great planter for low sculptural arrangements. The vessel's ...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Fiber Cement Planters Set of Six, Modern Swiss Design
By Willy Guhl
Located in Miami, FL
A rare set of six sculptural planters designed by Swiss industrial designer Willy Guhl and produced by Eternit AG. Crafted from durable fiber cement, these pieces embody Guhl’s minim...
Cement
$2,800 / item
Willy Guhl Cube Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The perfectly patina'd Willy Guhl cube. Priced Individually.
Cement
$2,650Sale Price|32% Off
Monumental 38" Willy Guhl for Eternit 'Diablo' Concrete Spindle Planter, c 1968
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly gorgeous 38" tall '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. 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...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Tilted Soup Cup Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
An iconic 'Soup Cup' Tilted Saucer Planter by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. This planter is equally beautiful indoors or out as a stand alone sculpture. The design is high...
Concrete
$2,600Sale Price|33% Off
Monumental 38" Willy Guhl for Eternit 'Diablo' Concrete Spindle Planter, c 1968
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly gorgeous 38" tall '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. 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...
Concrete
Willy Guhl 31" Adjustable 2-Piece Concrete Bowl Planters, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic cement planters by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit. Pedestal base with massive bowl that sits on top. Bowl can sit flat or angled in a mul...
Cement
Monumental Willy Guhl Fountain, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Massive and rare concrete fountain by Willy Guhl for Eternit. Fabricated out of three pieces of cement. Large basin on both ends with hollow cylinder conn...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Flower Pot, 1960s Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful pink concrete flower pot by Willy Guhl. Made in Switzerland in the 1960s. Great condition. Beautiful and unique coloring and patina. Clas...
Concrete
$2,500 / item
Concrete Marmite Planters by Willy Guhl
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic sculptural concrete planters by Willy Guhl. Large jug with handles on both sides and resting on 3 feet. Great patina to each pie...
Cement
2 Garden Pots in White Painted Concrete, Black Striped, circa 1930
By Willy Guhl
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Villy Ghul , 2 Garden Pots in White Painted Concrete, Black Striped, circa 1930
Concrete
$2,700 / item
Large Willy Guhl Diabolo Planters - 38” high
By Willy Guhl
Located in Richmond, VA
Large pair of the classic Willy Guhl diabolo planters- sold individually. 38” high
Concrete
Pair of Medium Willy Guhl Lamps
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pair of medium sized Willy Guhl table lamps with great natural patina. Newly Rewired. New Linen Shade.
Cement
Willy Guhl Petite Concrete Urn, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Petite concrete urn by Willy Guhl in a beautiful red patina. Urn has a delicate cement ridge around the mouth and two handles right under the upper rim. The body of the jar tapers do...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Tilted Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Tilted concrete planters by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl. Wonderful patina and coloring to each planter. Multiple sizes / shapes available.
Concrete
Willy Guhl Round Pedestal Planter, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A unique 1960s pedestal planter by Willy Guhl. Crafted from a special fiber-cement that makes it lightweight, yet durable. Pedestal has a hollow interior with a circle shaped opening...
Concrete