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 Tilted Soup Cup Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
An iconic 'Soup Cup' Tilted Saucer Planter by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. This planter is equally beautiful indoors or out as a stand alone sculpture. The design is high...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Wide Diablo Planter by Eternit, Mid-Century Concrete
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
Willy Guhl Diablo Planter - After opening his first design studio in 1939 at the age of 24, Swiss-born Willy Guhl (1915-2004) went on to become a leading industrial inventor, educato...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Marmite Cauldron Planter, Mid-Century Concrete Design, pair
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
Classic Marmite Cauldron planter designed by Swiss designer Willy Guhl, produced by Eternit in the 50s and 60s. Cauldron-shaped structure on three feet. Sold as a pair but can be se...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Trapezoid Planter, Fiber Concrete, Mid-Century Modern, 1960
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
Rare vintage square taper trapezoid shaped Willy Guhl planter. This shape is not common and hard to find. wonderful handles on the Side and great patina. Would make a lovely planter inside or out. sold individually. One planter has a smoother gray exterior and probably has not been painted over the years. The other has a bit more patina. Together the two blend nicely. one also has a hairline in the concrete in the upper corner on one side. To view all of our listings at Tiffany...
Concrete
Rectangular Balconia Planter Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
Rectangular planter with lip by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Planter is made of cement and has good color and patina. Great lines and clean design. This planter would be m...
Concrete
Rectangular Balconia Planter Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Wichita, KS
Rectangular planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Planter is made of cement and has good color and patina. Great lines and clean design. This planter would be magnificen...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Saucer Planter on Stand
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
31" Willy Guhl saucer planter on stand for Eternit Floating saucer planter on base Sculptural garden vessel The base can be flipped upside down for use ...
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
Willy Guhl Planter on Stand
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Willy Guhl for Eternit 47" planter on stand. Floating saucer planter on base. Sculptural garden vessel. The base can be flipped upside down for u...
Concrete
Midcentury Mode Round Planter Designed by Willy Guhl for Eternit in Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
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
Vintage Willy Guhl Large Tilt Concrete Planter - Mid-Century Modern Sculpture
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
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
Willy Guhl Round Pedestal Planter, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A unique 1960s pedestal planter by Willy Guhl. Crafted from a special fiber-cement that makes it lightweight, yet durable. Pedestal has a hollow interior with a circle shaped opening...
Concrete
