I have not seen Willy Guhl's jardinieres mentioned much and I really like them. These cement planters are virtually indestructible and are a dime-a-dozen outside restaurants and hotels all over Switzerland.
Since I have a "free" container going back to the States in three years I think I might stock up and become the go-to girl for Willy Guhn planters in the States. Whachoo think?
Material
Are they fiber cement like his loop chair?
I love those chairs and tables, but they have to go on a deck or patio. The solid, sun-blocking design will kill grass or anything else it sits on.
They are a magical form, but even though they are said to be virtually indestructible, I have seen them broken in shipment before.
I think the reason you don't hear much about Guhl in the states is because they were not widely distributed and so not very many people here are familiar with the designs. Too bad. Maybe you can rectify that.
Let me know if you bring some home, I'd be interested.
Willy Guhl's furniture is...
Willy Guhl's furniture is interesting, but no, I don't like the planters. They have a heavy, drab seventies aesthetic to them that I associate with the large-scale concrete housing projects of the sixties and seventies. I much prefer the midcentury style of the Vessel planters.
But your question was if they would sell in the US, and I honestly don't know. I live in a small flat so I am not the potential customer for this type of product. But I haven't seen anything similar so if the price is right, there could be a market. Perhaps you could have them painted? That would do a lot. Also, how much would they sell for and how heavy are they?
Either way, I do of course wish you the best of luck in your venture! I will return to this thread in three years for a report.
Hold on a sec
I have just spent a few minutes image googling planters and it seems the competition consists largely of either very plain looking, ordinarily shaped planters, or something whimsical. Not very exciting. So based on this impressive analysis, I do believe there is a market for these! I want in!
Nova68
has them in NY.
Anton Bee & Willy Guhl: Spindel Mid Century Modern Planter
Handmade in Switzerland.
"There is no planter more beautiful than this one!
This modern planter is a classic in the history of modern design. The Spindel planter was designed in 1951 by Anton Bee and Willy Guhl in Switzerland. The planter was shaped like a giant spindle or hourglass. The planter took Europe by storm and chances are you will find it just about anywhere in Europe in public places, private gardens, Swiss and Italian lake front estates and hotels, spa resorts and plenty of mid century modern homes. "
Check out some of their wooden toys...
http://www.nova68.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=nova...
Christophe Marchand, Classica Aron & Mira planters for Eternit
Willy Guhl is not the only person to work with fiber reinforced concrete. Christophe Marchand designed the Classica Aron & Mira planters for Eternit. These units can be much smaller (one gallon) and used easily in the home. The Willy Guhl planters were also manufactured by Eternit, although this is not mentioned at the Nova68 site. They may not have been a commercial success in the United States as they were available at Home Goods (TJX Corproation) about five years ago.
I wonder if the lack of...
...popularity has something to do with the use of asbestos as fibre in the cement/fibre combination. I know that in 1996 all Eternit facturies were converted to the use of cellulose fibres with Polyvinyl alcool (PVA)...but the user's hesitation might be related to the previous production methods...just a guess. The tapered shap does not seem to be very plant friendly...but who cares Riki if I coul sit in a Bertoia chair with a Guhl planter on each side, I would feel like a retired Suisse supreme court judge
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