Willy Guhl Anton Bee Diabolo Planters, Switzerland, 1950
View Similar Items
Willy Guhl Anton Bee Diabolo Planters, Switzerland, 1950
About the Item
- Creator:Eternit (Manufacturer),Willy Guhl (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 24.02 in (61 cm)Diameter: 15.75 in (40 cm)Length: 24.02 in (61 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Roosendaal, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU93307592783
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.
- Willy Guhl Sandbox Planter Eternit AG, Switzerland, 1960By Eternit, Willy GuhlLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantRare sandbox flower pot designed by Willy Guhl and manufactured by Eternit AG, Switzerland 1960. This piece can be used as a sandbox or storage box, but als...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Willy Guhl Handkerchief Planter Pair Eternit AG Switzerland, 1960By Willy GuhlLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantHighly decorative and very large pair of outdoor handkerchief shaped planters designed by Willy Guhl, and manufactured by Eternit AG, Switzerland 1960. These planters are made of cel...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsConcrete
- Stilnovo Attributed Diabolo Wall Lamp Adjustable Sconce, Italy, 1950By StilnovoLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantVery nice and adjustable wall lamp attributed to Stilnovo, Italy, 1950. This is for a very nice modernist shaped wall lamp with diabolo shaped shade with brass, and painted aluminium...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsAluminum, Brass
- Wilhelm Kienzle Safari Chairs, Switzerland, 1950By Wilhelm KienzleLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantIconic pair of so called 'Safari' chairs designed by Wilhelm Kienzle in 1928 and manufactured by Wohnbedarf, Switzerland 1950s. These chairs have solid oak wooden frames and beautifu...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Oak
$3,240 / set - Robert Haussmann Club Chairs Pair Switzerland 1950By Robert HaussmannLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantVery nice and early club chairs designed by Robert Haussmann, Switzerland 1950. These low lounge chairs have an elegant shape and seat super comfortable. The tufted arms give the cha...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsLeather
- Willy Van Der Meeren Desk by Tubax Belgium 1955By Willy Van Der Meeren, TubaxLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantNice Industrial desk designed by Willy Van Der Meeren and manufactured by Tubax, Belgium 1955. This typical fifties Industrial desk has a very nice Industrial look with the black metal folded v structure...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Hourglass "Diabolo" Planter by Willy Guhl and Anton Bee, 1950s SwitzerlandBy Anton Bee, Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Nürnberg, BayernHourglass "Diabolo" Planter by Willy Guhl and Anton Bee, 1950s Switzerland "Diabolo" planter with a fabulous different polychrome patina. It was designed by Willy Guhl and Anton ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
- Diabolo Planter by Willy Guhl & Anton Bee for Eternit Switzerland 1950sBy Anton Bee, Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in PARIS, FRAttributed to Anton Bee and Willy Guhl for Eternit. In 1951, eternity ag sought to collaborate with outside designers and asked willy guhl and his students to work on new plant conta...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
- Diabolo Planter by Anton Bee and Willy Guhl for Eternit Switzerland, 1950By Willy GuhlLocated in PARIS, FRIn 1951, eternity ag sought to collaborate with outside designers and asked willy guhl and his students to work on new plant containers. eternit, developed for the production of roof...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
- Set of 6 Enormous Hourglass "Diabolo" Planters by Willy Guhl and Anton BeeBy Anton Bee, Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Nürnberg, BayernDifferent "Diabolo" planters are quite hard to find, but we have found six different vessels, all with a fabulous different polychrome patina. There are three different heights and diameters. 3x Planter - Height 46cm/18.11" - Diameter 50cm/19.68" 2x Planter - Height 60cm/23,62" - Diameter 36cm/14,17" 1x Planter - Height 89.5cm/35,23" - Diameter 54.5cm/21,45" Some with chipping, hairline cracks and paint. See the pictures, they are fantastic and have an honest and incredibly beautiful patina with paint chips and other. All are stable. They were designed by Willy Guhl and Anton Bee...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
- Pair of French Brown Diabolo Planter by Willy Guhl and Anton Bee for EternitBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Malibu, USPair of French brown diabolo , good condition, trace of use , I have many more to come. Those piece are really hard to find. After they stopped manufacturing, many people threw thei...Category
Late 20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement
- Square Planter by Willy Guhl, Switzerland 1950sBy Willy Guhl, EternitLocated in Nürnberg, BayernVery nice patina. We have a total of six of the same type and many other models by Willy Guhl. Swiss designer Willy Guhl (1915-2004) was well known for his weather resistant plante...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsCement