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.
Square Willy Guhl Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Planters by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit, showcasing subtle variations in weathered surface and form. The timeless, utilitarian beauty makes them ideal for indoor or outdoor...
Cement
Willy Guhl Adjustable Concrete Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental round planter by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit, showcasing a magnificent patina. Elevated on its original concrete stand, it creates a commanding sculptural presen...
Cement
Short Willy Guhl Off Kilter Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare short asymmetrical planter by Swiss designer Willy Guhl, featuring a bold modernist silhouette. A striking sculptural piece that brings architectural character to indoor or outd...
Cement
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a brutalist flare to your interior with this piece by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. A sculptural concrete rectangle with a hollow interior and curved edges, this object is incredib...
Concrete
Short Willy Guhl Off Kilter Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Asymmetrical planter by Swiss designer Willy Guhl, featuring a rare and bold modernist design. Its sculptural form and strong silhouette make it a standout piece for any garden or ar...
Cement
Willy Guhl Concrete Cube Side Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a brutalist flare to your interior with this piece by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. A sculptural concrete cube with a hollow interior and curved edges, this object would make for a...
Concrete
Square Willy Guhl Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Planters by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit, showcasing subtle variations in weathered surface and form. The timeless, utilitarian beauty makes them ideal for indoor or outdoor...
Cement
Willy Guhl Adjustable Concrete Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental round planter by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit, showcasing a magnificent patina. Elevated on its original concrete stand, it creates a commanding sculptural presen...
Cement
Willy Guhl Light Up Concrete Side Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning concrete side table with built in lamp by Eternit. Made in Swizterland. Newly rewired. Gorgeous piece of collectible design. Can be used indoors...
Concrete
$3,320Sale Price|20% Off
Willy Guhl barbecue dinning table
By Willy Guhl
Located in grand Lancy, CH
very rare concrete Willy Guhl barbecue dinning table , the center of the table , metal part is missing
Concrete
Modular Side Table by Willy Guhl for Eternit AG, Switzerland, 1954
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Antwerp, BE
Willy Guhl’s modular cubic side table for Eternit AG, handmade in Switzerland in 1954. This rare piece exemplifies Guhl’s groundbreaking design approach, crafted with precision from ...
Concrete, Cement
Willy Guhl Concrete and Glass Side Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Industrial Willy Guhl concrete table for Eternit, fitted with new pieces of glass for each shelf. This table is made using a unique concrete fiber cement that is reminiscent of the p...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Drum Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic drum table by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Great scale and unique shape. Suitable for indoor and outdoors. Only one available. New pencil edge glass top. Stunnin...
Cement
Square Willy Guhl Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Planters by Swiss designer Willy Guhl for Eternit, showcasing subtle variations in weathered surface and form. The timeless, utilitarian beauty makes them ideal for indoor or outdoor...
Cement
Willy Guhl Concrete Side Table, 1960's France
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The perfect side table indoors or out. Circular concrete table by Swiss designer Willy Guhl. Made in Switzerland, circa 1960s. Round base with circular tabletop fastened underneath ...
Concrete
$4,800
Willy Guhl Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Willy Guhl Wavy Table/Stool, Switzerland Original construction of cement fiber. Fantastic patina Only one table available for purchase — left table in main image
Cement
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
$8,500 / item
Willy Guhl Table with built in Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Unique Willy Guhl Table with built in Planters 3x planter with yellow patina Original construction of fiber cement Switzerland, 1960s
Cement
$17,600Sale Price / set|44% Off
H 94.49 in W 14.18 in D 133.86 in
Willy Guhl 46 Piece Modular Concrete Cube Bookcase, 1978 Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Stunning monumental 46 piece concrete bookcase by Willy Guhl. Made up of 2 different sized hand-made concrete cubes.36 big size and 10 small size, Completely modular and able to be ...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Monumental Chalice Style Concrete Planter 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Meer, VAN
Willy Guhl Monumental Chalice Style Concrete Planter, Switzerland, 1960s. This is a monumental mid century concrete planter by Willy Guhl. This chalice like design is one of his bes...
Concrete
$2,150
H 12.6 in W 12.6 in D 11.42 in
Modular Side Table by Willy Guhl for Eternit AG, Switzerland, 1954
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Antwerp, BE
Willy Guhl’s modular cubic side table for Eternit AG, handmade in Switzerland in 1954. This rare piece exemplifies Guhl’s groundbreaking design approach, crafted with precision from ...
Concrete, Cement
$10,366 / set
H 20.48 in W 21.26 in D 31.5 in
Pair of "Loop Chair" Armchairs Willy Guhl Swiss Vintage Design, G212
By Willy Guhl
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of garden armchairs model "Loop chair" by the Swiss designer Willy Guhl from the 60's edited by Eternit. Fiber cement ribbon forming a low...
Cement
$2,050
H 31.7 in W 19.49 in D 19.49 in
Antique Sheraton Revival Hardwood & Satinwood Revolving Bookcase Side End Table
By Sheraton Revival
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine antique Sheraton Revival Mahogany & Satinwood revolving bookcase table A very good looking well made and decorative piece. Made i...
Hardwood, Satinwood
$3,726 / set
H 10.63 in W 12.6 in D 16.42 in
Set of 5 SPACE-AGE Concrete BOOKCASES by WILLY GUHL for ETERNIT, Swiss 1970
By Willy Guhl
Located in PARIS, FR
A set of 5 (on a total of 20 identical pieces!!!) modular concrete bookcases, Modernist, Free Form, Brutalist, rectangular loop cases with rounded edges, with a great grey patina wit...
Concrete
A Willy Rizzo Black Lacquer Coffee Table
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Chicago, IL
A sophisticated Italian Midcentury Modern cocktail table by Willy Rizzo. The table captures the relaxed glamour of 1970's design with its low, sleek, aesthetic. The piece is made fro...
Oak
$3,726
H 11.82 in W 38.98 in D 38.98 in
Willy Rizzo Italian Squared White Botticino Marble and Steel Coffee Table, 1970
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Roma, IT
Midcentury squared coffee table in white Botticino marble and steel bottles or objects holder. This outstanding item was designed in Italy during the ...
Marble, Steel, Stainless Steel
1970s Willy Rizzo Square Two-Tiered Coffee Table
By Willy Rizzo
Located in New York, NY
A square French two-tiered low side tables with chrome and gunmetal finish metal and smokey glass tops. By Willy Rizzo* for Linea Flaminia. From the estate of Mrs. C.Z. Guest (Mrs. W...
Chrome
Burl Coffee Table Style of Willy Rizzo
By Willy Rizzo
Located in New York, NY
Burl coffee table style of Willy Rizzo with a metal insert to the center and floating on a metal base. The metal insert was originally used to hold bottles.
Metal
Willy Rizzo forest green lacquer square coffee table 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Paris, IDF
This stunning square coffee table is guaranteed to be the focus of attention when you entertain guests in your living room. Following the glamorous mid-century look of other classic ...
Lacquer
$1,900Sale Price|34% Off
H 31 in Dm 18 in
Willy Guhl for Eternit 'Diablo' Concrete Hourglass Planter, c 1968
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly gorgeous 31" tall and 18" diameter 'Diablo' concrete spindel planters by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968, Switzerland. This sculptural hourglass shaped concrete planter has a grey exterior finish. The price is for a single Willy Guhl planter, we have the darker grey one showing in the main photo available. Some of the other ones have sold but contact us if you are looking for more Willy Guhl pots and planters. 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
Flower Planter "Spindel" in Fiberglass by Willy Guhl for Eternit, c. 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in New York, NY
This planter is part of the Eternit fiber-cement vase collection, designed by Swiss industrial design pioneer Willy Guhl (1915–2004), who is also known for creating the iconic Loop C...
Fiberglass
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a brutalist flare to your interior with this piece by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. A sculptural concrete rectangle with a hollow interior and curved edges, this object is incredib...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Willy Guhl curved table or stool with wavy base and flat top Great white patina Original construction of cement fiber.
Cement
Willy Guhl Cow Sculpture/Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Unique rare shaped Willy Guhl planter in the shape of a cow ! Switzerland, 1960's Fantastic patina Consists of two large sized planters
Cement
Sculptural Willy Guhl Table/Sandbox
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Incredible rare Willy Guhl Coffee Table that also turns into a sandbox or planter? Lid rests on top of curved undulated base - which can function as a lid for a sandbox. Wonderfu...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Cube Side Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural concrete cube side table by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Handmade in Switzerland in the early 1960s. Produced by Eternit. Age and weather has given this piece an inimitable...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete 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...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Hexagon Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic hexagon table by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Great scale and unique shape. Suitable for indoor and outdoors. Only one available. New pencil edge glass top. Stun...
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...
Cement
Willy Guhl Concrete and Glass Side Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique Willy Guhl concrete table for Eternit. New pieces of tempered glass for each shelf. Perfect side table for indoors or outside. Unusual piece. Three available in different pati...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Willy Guhl "loop" coffee table, Switzerland, 1954 Original construction of cement fiber.
Cement
Willy Guhl Loop Stool Eternit AG, Switzerland, 1954
By Willy Guhl
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice loop stool designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit AG, Switzerland, 1954. This rare stool is designed by Willy Guhl are made of cellulose infused fiber cement like concrete, whi...
Concrete