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 Willy Guhl Tilt Mid-Century Modern Concrete Planter
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
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
Vintage Willy Guhl Tilt Planter – Mid-Century Modern Concrete Bowl
By Willy Guhl
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A vintage Willy Guhl tilt planter, designed in Switzerland in the mid-20th century. Known for his pioneering work in concrete, Guhl created bold, sculptural garden pieces that seamle...
Cement
Vintage Willy Guhl Swiss Fiber Cement Tilt Planter - Mid-Century Modern
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This striking vintage tilt planter was designed by renowned Swiss modernist Willy Guhl for Eternit in the mid-20th century. Crafted from durable fiber cement, the planter showcases G...
Cement
Vintage Willy Guhl Tilt Planter Bowl – Mid-Century Modern Swiss
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This large vintage “Tilt” planter bowl is an iconic design by Swiss modernist Willy Guhl, produced by Eternit in Switzerland during the mid-20th century. Known for his innovative use...
Concrete
Monumental Willy Guhl Eternit Pedestal Bowl Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This monumental pedestal bowl planter is an iconic example of mid-century modern garden design attributed to Swiss designer Willy Guhl, whose sculptural Eternit fiber cement planters...
Cement
Rare Willy Guhl “Spindel” Planter, Swiss Fiber Cement Garden Sculpture
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This authentic mid-century modern garden planter is the celebrated “Spindel” model by Willy Guhl, a defining example of Swiss modernist garden design from the mid-20th century. Chara...
Cement
Willy Guhl for Eternit Concrete Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Willy Guhl for Eternit concrete planters.
Concrete
Willy Guhl for Eternit Concrete Planters
By Willy Guhl
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Willy Guhl for Eternit concrete planters.
Concrete
Mid-Century Cast Concrete Garden Planter, Willy Guhl, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Odense, DK
A sculptural mid-century garden planter in cast concrete, designed with a wide, shallow bowl resting on an elegant pedestal base. The form combines classical inspiration with a clean...
Cast Stone, Concrete, Cement
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
Swiss Mid-Century Modern Conical Concrete Diable Planter by Willy Gulh, 1950s
By Willy Guhl
Located in MIlano, IT
Swiss Mid-Century Modern conical concrete Diable planter or vase by Willy Gulh, 1950s Diable model planter or vase, entirely in concrete, with conical base structure and containing ...
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
