Items Similar to Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Handle Planter

Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Handle Planter

Willy Guhl for Eternit Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Handle Planter, circa 1968

Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Planter, 1970s, Signed

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 20

Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Handle Planter

About the Item

This designer on-trend architectural 27.5" long rectangular concrete planter is by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, crafted circa 1968, Switzerland. This special low-profile and rare long sized rectangle-shaped concrete planter has a patinated natural exterior finish and organic aging over decades of UK climate. Excellent planter size for a variety of various uses such as succulents, plants, weeping grass with the planter on a stand, balcony privacy hedge, or any other outdoor decorative use. Handles on both ends allow for easy relocation of planter. We have over 50 of these rectangular concrete planters in various sizes. We have five in this particular size at the time of this listing and photos of each example is included in this listing. We also have a large collection of other Willy Guhl for Eternit pots, planters, garden objects, jardinières, and patio furniture. We always have inventory in Diablo's, Tilted and Cone Planters, box and rectangular Guhl's and more. Original Guhls, like these, were made with asbestos, therefore we advise only using outside or in a well-ventilated room. While other dealers don't usually disclose this, we would rather you be safe than sorry. Consider using this Willy Guhl concrete planter pot in an Architectural, Postmodern, Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern or Danish modern garden, yard or penthouse apartment balcony but could also look fantastic in a Contemporary or Zen / Minimalism setting. Also consider mixing it up in a traditional, transitional, classical or Art Deco space with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an Apt choice in a commercial project such as an outdoor hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office balcony. Condition: Sturdy and structurally sound. Has beautiful antiquing and patina throughout from decades of organic aging which can include minor chipping, stains or other blemishes however this lightly distressed look is common, expected and desirable for these early production originals. Some examples may display light stabile cracking. These concrete planters are made with fibrous material which keeps cracks in the concrete stabile and usable. Any areas with this with reinforced with a bonding material to ensure even greater stability. Excellent example for a collector or designer. Measurements: H 6.875" x W 27.5" x D 6.875".

Creator:

Willy Guhl (Designer),Eternit (Maker)

Dimensions:

Height: 6.875 in (17.47 cm)Width: 27.5 in (69.85 cm)Depth: 6.875 in (17.47 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Concrete

Place of Origin:

Switzerland

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

circa 1968

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Sturdy and structurally sound. Beautiful antiquing and patina from decades of natural aging which can include minor chipping, stains or other blemishes however this lightly distressed look is common, expected and desirable on original examples.

Seller Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Reference Number:

Seller: 4RT1-51stDibs: LU1330217722951

View Invoice

Shop All Willy Guhl

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.