Vintage Round Planters by Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s, Set of 2
View Similar Items
Vintage Round Planters by Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s, Set of 2
About the Item
- Creator:Willy Guhl (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 9.45 in (24 cm)Diameter: 31.5 in (80 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:
- Seller Location:HEVERLEE, BE
- Reference Number:Seller: 901921stDibs: LU3944324675082
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.
- Vintage planters by Willy Guhl, 1960s set of 3, 1960sBy Willy GuhlLocated in HEVERLEE, BESet of 3 planters designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit SA. Three different szies in this set. One planters has some white paint on it. 1960s -...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Vintage Brutalist Armchairs, 1960s, Set of 4Located in HEVERLEE, BESturdy stained oak brutalist armchairs. Well crafted chairs with a nicely shaped seat, and beautifully curved armrests. The frames are nicely sculpted. 1960s - France Goo...Category
Vintage 1960s French Brutalist Armchairs
MaterialsOak
$1,043 / set - Vintage brutalist dining chairs, set of 6 - 1960sLocated in HEVERLEE, BEMid century solid wooden brutalist dining chairs. Nice rustic design with heartt shaped cutouts in the back. Very sturdy chairs Good original condition. 1960s - Sweden Dimensio...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsOak
$1,263 / set - Set of 4 Vintage Dining Chairs by Louis Van Teeffelen, 1960sBy Louis Van TeeffelenLocated in HEVERLEE, BEMid-century dining chairs designed by Louis van Teeffelen. Beautifully crafted curved teak frames with a black leatherette upholstery. The chairs are in a good original conditi...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Teak
- Vintage Dining Chairs by Depuydt, Belgium, Set of 5 - 1960sBy De PuydtLocated in HEVERLEE, BESturdy and handcrafted dining chairs produced by Depuydt Kunstmeubelen in Belgium. The chairs are made from solid oak. Beautiful split backs with interlocking wooden pieces. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Belgian Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsOak
- Vintage Brazilian Lounge Chairs, 1960s Set of 2Located in HEVERLEE, BEPair of striking brutalist tropical hardwood lounge chairs with ottomans. The chairs have been reupholstered in tan brown leather. Maker unknown but very much in the style of B...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Brutalist Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Hardwood
$7,139 / set
- 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 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
- Rectangular Balconia Planter Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960sBy Willy GuhlLocated in Wichita, KSRectangular 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...Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements
MaterialsConcrete
- Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Tulip Planters, 1960sBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in New York, NYDesigned by Willy Guhl for Eternit large tulip shaped concrete planters or jardinières, Switzerland, 1960s. These exquisite planters are made from weather-resistant fiber cement and ...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
$2,500 / item - Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Tulip Planters, 1960sBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in New York, NYDesigned by Willy Guhl for Eternit large tulip shaped concrete planters or jardinières, Switzerland, 1960s. These exquisite planters are made from weather-resistant fiber cement and ...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
$2,500 / item - Willy Guhl for Eternit Concrete Marmite Planters, 1960sBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in New York, NYDesigned by Willy Guhl for Eternit AG concrete Marmite planters with two handles on both sides resting on three feet., Switzerland, 1960s. These chic exquisite planters are made fro...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
On Hold$2,500 / item