Pair of Large Flower Pot Form Planters Designed by Willy Guhl, Dated 1960
View Similar Items
Pair of Large Flower Pot Form Planters Designed by Willy Guhl, Dated 1960
About the Item
- Creator:Willy Guhl (Designer),Eternit (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Diameter: 21.63 in (54.95 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Noted in body of description.
- Seller Location:Woodbury, CT
- Reference Number:Seller: CPL 11531stDibs: LU863413002792
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.
- Pair of Willy Willy Guhl Biomorphic Pots or Planters by EternitBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Baambrugge, NLBeautifully shaped large pair of biomorphic pots by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Manufactured by Eternit AG, who produced all of Guhl's designs. These pots look similar to the handker...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsOther
- Willy Guhl Flower Pot, 1960s SwitzerlandBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Los Angeles, CABeautiful pink concrete flower pot by Willy Guhl. Made in Switzerland in the 1960s. Great condition. Beautiful and unique coloring and patina. Clas...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Willy Guhl Concrete Flower Pot, 1960s SwitzerlandBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Los Angeles, CAPerfect concrete flower pots by Willy Guhl. Made in Switzerland in the 1960s. Great vintage condition with unique patina on each as shown. Classic ...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Minimalist Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
$2,000 / item - Willy Guhl Concrete Flower Pot, 1960s SwitzerlandBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Los Angeles, CAPerfect large concrete flower pots by Willy Guhl. Made in Switzerland in the 1960s. Great vintage condition with unique patina on each as shown. Cl...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Minimalist Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
$2,000 / item - Large Willy Guhl Flower Pot, 1970s SwitzerlandBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Los Angeles, CABeautiful concrete flower pot by Willy Guhl. A natural grey concrete finish with minimal wear, this planter fits perfectly into any design story. Made ...Category
Vintage 1970s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Pair of Willy Guhl 'Diablo' Planters, Switzerland 1960sBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Malibu, USPair of iconic vintage 'Diablo' Planters by Swiss neo-functionalist and industrial design pioneer Willy Guhl for Eternit, Switzerland, circa 1970. Made from fibre-cement, these pie...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
Sold$3,000 / set