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.
Large 21.65" Diam. 11.6" Tall Tapered Concrete W. Guhl Eternit Planter A+ Patina
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Basel, BS
One conical concrete planter created by Willy Guhl for Eternit. We currently have three available, sold individually, but we can arrange combined shipping if you would like to purcha...
Concrete
Large 22" Diam. 11.6" Tall Tapered Concrete W. Guhl Eternit Planter A+ Patina
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Basel, BS
One conical concrete planter created by Willy Guhl for Eternit. We currently have three available, sold individually, but we can arrange combined shipping if you would like to purcha...
Concrete
Set 3! XL 22" Diam. 11.6" H Tapered Concrete W. Guhl Eternit Planter A+ Patina
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Basel, BS
One conical concrete planter created by Willy Guhl for Eternit. We currently have three available, sold here as a set with combined shipping! This designer planter pot is designed b...
Concrete
French Sandstone hand carved Table lamp SIGNED Albert Tormos, Saint-Tropez, 1970
By Albert Tormos
Located in Basel, BS
Incredible lamp art piece by French artist and sculptor, Albert Tormos. Singed by the artist. Rare and very collectible. Albert Tormos, a French artist, is recognized for his scul...
Sandstone
Brutalist 1970's French Primitive Round Dining Table, Wood W/ Solid Slate Inlay
By Ettore Sottsass, Mario Botta
Located in Basel, BS
Stunning French Solid wood and Slate Dining table. Very beautiful work of design. Measures: 50" diameter 29" Height 1.5" Table op thickness
Oak, Walnut
Very Large Stunning Brutalist Postmodern MCM Ceramic Handmade Lamp 70s, 3 lights
Located in Basel, BS
Very stunning 1970s large French, brutalist handmade lamp featuring a 3 light switch, you can have one light, two lights, or all three on with the pull of the chain. **We have a video of the lighting functions available to send to you upon request. We can message it to you here on the 1st Dibs system. Beautifully handmade with attention to beautiful craft and drip detailing. This is a wonderful presence and statement piece in any designer space. Fast shipping in 5-14 days, via insured airmail with our top rated...
Brass
Tapered Round Concrete Willy Guhl Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Chireno, TX
Tapered round concrete Willy Guhl planter circa 1960s. More available - see other listings.
Concrete
Tapered Round Concrete Willy Guhl Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Chireno, TX
Tapered round concrete Willy Guhl planter circa 1960s. Two available (see last picture and other listing) and priced individually at $1,400 each.
Concrete
Large Tapered Round Concrete Willy Guhl Planter
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Chireno, TX
Large tapered round concrete Willy Guhl planter circa 1960s.
Concrete
Vintage Willy Guhl Large Tilt Concrete Planter - Mid-Century Modern Sculpture
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This vintage Willy Guhl shallow concrete bowl planter embodies the timeless elegance of Swiss mid-century modern design. Crafted in the 1960s–70s, the piece is part of Guhl’s celebra...
Concrete
Vintage Willy Guhl Tilt Mid-Century Modern Concrete Planter
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This striking vintage concrete planter embodies the sculptural elegance and functional artistry made famous by Swiss designer Willy Guhl. Crafted in the mid-20th century, the piece f...
Concrete
Willy Guhl 31" Adjustable 2 Piece Concrete Planter, Switzerland, 1960's
By Willy Guhl
Located in Culver City, CA
Iconic Willy Guhl Planter for Eternit, 1960s – A Cement Celebrity Here we go again, folks—another jaw-dropping Willy Guhl planter for Eternit, straight from the 1960s and brimming with all those modernist vibes. This two-piece stunner is serving serious I-woke-up-like-this energy with its perfectly imperfect patina that whispers, “I’ve seen some things, darling.” Sure, you could scrub it down to look fresh-out-of-the-box new, but why? This weathered look is like vintage leather or a classic movie star—it gets better with age, and trust us, nobody is asking for a makeover. The planter features Guhl’s signature silhouette: a big, bold bowl (31.25" in diameter!) resting atop a truncated cone base. It’s modular magic—position the bowl flat and grounded, or tilt it just so for that effortlessly off-kilter, “yes, I have a design degree” aesthetic. As shown here, it measures a statuesque 16" tall, just the right height to command attention without stealing the limelight from your botanical besties. Whether gracing a sunny patio, lounging poolside at a Hollywood mansion, or bringing its rugged-chic charm indoors, this planter is pure Swiss sophistication. It’s not just a planter; it’s a moment. Who Was Willy Guhl? Oh, you haven’t heard? Willy Guhl (1915–2004) was the OG of modern outdoor design. This Swiss genius pioneered the use of fiber cement, creating pieces that were as indestructible as they were elegant. His work with Eternit was groundbreaking (literally), marrying sculptural forms with functional durability. Guhl believed design should live harmoniously with nature—a philosophy you’ll see in every timeless curve and tilt of his creations. TL;DR: This planter is everything you want—chic, rare, collectible, and packed with history. Snag it now, because let’s face it, everyone else wants it too. 🌵 Within the photos is another Guhl planter, same size and design (diff planter), photographed with a Paola Lenti outdoor...
Concrete
