Midcentury Square Planter by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s
View Similar Items
Midcentury Square Planter by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Willy Guhl (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Width: 23.5 in (59.69 cm)Depth: 23.5 in (59.69 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Almelo, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: 1801971stDibs: LU3696312054793
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.
- Midcentury Carlo Scarpa Poliedri Chandeliers for Venini, Murano, Italy, 1960sBy Carlo Scarpa, VeniniLocated in Almelo, NLMiCarlo Scarpa Poliedri Chandeliers for Venini, Murano, Italy, 1960s. We have two exquisite mid-century Venini Murano glass chandeliers for sale, designed by Carlo Scarpa in Italy...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Midcentury Opaline Glass Pendants, Europe, 1960sLocated in Almelo, NLLarge set of pendants, opaline glass, Europe, 1960s. The diffuse light it spreads is very atmospheric. Completed with the opaline glass and metal frame details, these pendants will c...Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsOpaline Glass
- Mid-Century Brass Chandelier wit 28 lights, Switzerland 1960s.Located in Almelo, NLMid-Century Brass Chandelier wit 28 lights, Switzerland 1960s. A large mid-century chandelier made of brass was manufactured in Switzerland in the 1960s and is now available in Euro...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Grande Midcentury-Modern Brass Chandelier by Doria Leuchten, Germany, 1960s.By Doria Leuchten GermanyLocated in Almelo, NLGrande Midcentury-Modern Chandelier by Doria Leuchten, Germany, 1960s. The fixture consists of layers with several hand-blown textured glass tubes (and five reserves) mounted on a f...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Midcentury Structured Opaline Glass Pendant, Europe 1960sLocated in Almelo, NLMid-Century Pendants, Structured Opaline Glass, Europe, 1960s Large set of pendants, opaline glass, Europe, 1960s. The diffuse light it sprea...Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Midcentury Wall Lights in Brass Italy 1960sLocated in Almelo, NLMidcentury Wall Lights in Brass Italy 1960s This is a set of wall lights/sconces/ceiling lights with brass fixtures produced and designed in Italy during the 1960s. The lights fea...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
$1,650 / item
- Midcentury Rare Square Planter by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960sBy Willy GuhlLocated in West Hollywood, CAA rare midcentury large square concrete planter measuring 12" H x 29" W x 39" L by famous Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Excellent patina and coloring to this planter. We ha...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Willy Guhl Eternit Planters, Switzerland, 1960sBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Antwerp, BEBrutalist and minimalist planters, Willy Guhl, Switzerland, 1960s 3 similar size rectangular planters are available + 1 larger (see other listings) Willy Guhl was a pioneering Swis...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Brutalist Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Concrete Planter by Willy Guhl for Eternit, Switzerland ca. 1960sBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Geneva, CHLarge eternit planter by Willy Guhl produced by Eternit AG, Switzerland ca. 1960s Original shape. 85 x 85 x 19 cmCategory
Vintage 1960s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Willy Guhl, Set of 7 Planters, Eternit, Switzerland 1960sBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Berlin, DEA set of 7 rectangular planters by Willy Guhl. 6 with 100cm length, 1 with 120cm. Overall good condition, one of the 100cm planters with a non visible hole in the bottom, but no stru...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Willy Guhl, Large Eternit Planter, Switzerland, 1960sLocated in Berlin, DEWilly Guhl, large planter in concrete. Executed by Eternit in Switzerland in the 1960s. Very nice patina.Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Willy Guhl Square Tray Planters, 1960s SwitzerlandBy Willy GuhlLocated in Los Angeles, CAFantastic square tray tabletop planters by Willy Guhl. Great for succulents and indoor planting. Great original patina throughout. Six available. Priced individually.Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement