Planter, Willy Guhl
Planter, Willy Guhl
About the Item
- Creator:Willy Guhl (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 14.18 in (36 cm)Width: 28.35 in (72 cm)Depth: 28.35 in (72 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1955
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Copenhagen K, DK
- Reference Number:Seller: Item no.: 82_1118521stDibs: LU2045322273032
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.
- Planter, Willy GuhlBy Willy GuhlLocated in Copenhagen K, DKLarge and beautiful old garden pot / jardiniere, by the legendary Swiss designer Willy Guhl. A good conical design and with fantastic weathered patina....Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
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$1,208 - Planter, Willy GuhlBy Willy GuhlLocated in Copenhagen K, DKElegant 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
Vintage 1950s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
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$1,538 - Planter, Willy GuhlBy Willy GuhlLocated in Copenhagen K, DKLarge and beautiful old garden pot / jardiniere, by the legendary Swiss designer Willy Guhl. A good conical design and with fantastic weathered patina....Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
$1,208 - Planter, Willy GuhlBy Willy GuhlLocated in Copenhagen K, DKElegant 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
Vintage 1950s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
$1,538 - Cauldron Planter, Willy Guhl, 1960By Willy GuhlLocated in Copenhagen K, DKHandsome 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
Vintage 1960s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
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- Elephant Ear Handkerchief Planter, Willy GuhlBy Willy GuhlLocated in Copenhagen K, DKElegant and large and not least sought after vintage garden planter / jardiniere, known as Elephant Ear Handkerchief and designed by the Swiss ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
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- Willy Guhl PlantersBy Willy GuhlLocated in Beverly Hills, CAWilly Guhl "Diablo" shaped concrete pots. Multiple sizes and quantities of each available. This listing is for 31.5" H x 17.75.Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Modern Planters and Jardinieres
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$2,400 / item - Willy Guhl Tooth PlantersBy Willy GuhlLocated in Los Angeles, CAUnique cement planter by Willy Guhl. Triangular shape with faceted sides. Great piece of sculpture for indoors or outside. 7 available. Priced individually. Very good vintage conditi...Category
Vintage 1960s American Planters and Jardinieres
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$3,600 / item - Willy Guhl Tilted PlantersBy Willy GuhlLocated in Los Angeles, CATilted concrete "soup-cup" planters by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl. Great patina and coloring to each planter. Excellent vintage condition. Great planter and standalone sculpture for ...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
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$1,650 / item - Willy Guhl Rectangular PlantersBy Willy GuhlLocated in Los Angeles, CAFantastic rectangular planters by Willy Guhl. Great for succulents and indoor planting. 4 available. Priced individually.Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
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$625 / item - Willy Guhl Hexagon PlanterBy Willy GuhlLocated in Los Angeles, CAFantastic pieces of sculpture by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Concrete geometric planters in the shape of a hexagon. Cool sculptural pieces for indoor...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Planters and Jardinieres
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$2,800 / item - Willy Guhl Molar PlantersBy Eternit, Willy GuhlLocated in Brooklyn, NYScarce pair of molar planters, designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit. Arched triangular form cheekily resembles a tooth. Strong and robust, these garden planters are sculpted from fibro...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete