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 for Eternit Tilted Spindle Concrete Planter, circa 1968
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful tilted spindle concrete planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968, Switzerland. This special 'tilted' hourglass shaped concrete spindel planter has a ...
Concrete
Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Sized Tilted Spindle Concrete Planter, circa 1968
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large sized (18" tall and 25" wide) tilted spindle concrete planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968, Switzerland. This special 'tilted' hourglass shaped concr...
Concrete
Monumental 38" Willy Guhl for Eternit 'Diablo' Concrete Spindle Planter, c 1968
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly gorgeous 38" tall 'Diablo' concrete spindel planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968, Switzerland. This sculptural hourglass shaped concrete planter has a white exterior finish. We have a large collection of 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...
Concrete
Monumental 38" Willy Guhl for Eternit 'Diablo' Concrete Spindle Planter, c 1968
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly gorgeous 38" tall 'Diablo' concrete spindel planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968, Switzerland. This sculptural hourglass shaped concrete planter has a white exterior finish. We have a large collection of 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...
Concrete
Willy Guhl for Eternit Large Rectangle Concrete Outdoor Planter, 1970s, Signed
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This designer on-trend architectural rectangular concrete planter is by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, crafted in the 1970s Switz...
Concrete
Willy Guhl for Eternit 'Diablo' Concrete Hourglass Planter, c 1968
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly gorgeous 31" tall and 18" diameter 'Diablo' concrete spindel planters by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit, circa 1968, Switzerland. This sculptural hourglass shaped concrete planter has a grey exterior finish. The price is for a single Willy Guhl planter, we have the darker grey one showing in the main photo available. Some of the other ones have sold but contact us if you are looking for more Willy Guhl pots and planters. We have a large collection of 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...
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
Unusually large Willy Guhl planter for Eternit. Ca 1960s Switzerland.
By Willy Guhl
Located in Bozeman, MT
Unusually large Willy Guhl planter for Eternit. Ca 1960s Switzerland.
Cement
Willy Guhl Spindle Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Large spindle or diabolo planter designed by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Originally made in three sizes, this planter is the medium size at 32 inches tall. An iconic hourglass form to add sculptural flare to the garden. This all-weather planter...
Cement
Mid-Century Modern Round Planter by Willy Guhl for Eternit in Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Round planter designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit in Switzerland. Beautiful patina. The upper part inclines slightly, for better vision of the plants and flowers in it.
Cement
Large vintage planter by Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1950s Switzerland.
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Large vintage planter by Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1950s Switzerland. Made from Guhl’s characteristic fibre cement, the planter has a beautifully simple, sculptural form with a wide, s...
Fibre Cement
Vintage planter by Willy Guhl for Eternit editions
By Willy Guhl
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Inclined diabolo planter designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit editions in the 1960s. Planter with an avant-garde design and conception, it does not lack character and modernity. It ...
Cement
