After returning from his service in the Army during World War II, John, known by his colleagues and friends as Johnny, continued his education at the University of Arkansas. During this time, he met Hans Knoll, who was being honored at a dinner party hosted by a Little Rock hotel owner. The owner had hired Hans to furnish his new hotel with Knoll designs. Hans, who led the most important international furniture and textile firm of the day, captivated Johnny with his passion for modern art and architecture. Before the evening was over, Hans offered Johnny a position at Knoll after his graduation and suggested he pursue a double major in business/marketing and art/design.
By the 1950s, the “Knoll Identity” had become the design standard for contemporary corporate powerhouses, with showrooms located across the country. After training in New York with Hans and Florence Knoll, along with other prominent designers and architects, Johnny was asked to open and manage a showroom for Knoll in Dallas. As the company grew, his territory quickly expanded to include all states west of the Mississippi, as well as Canada and Mexico. During his three decades at Knoll, Johnny rose from a sales associate to the #2 executive, overseeing all distribution outside the U.S., except for Europe.
This collection includes pieces from Johnny’s early days with Knoll, to classic designs by Harry Bertoia and other well-known international designers.
Over the years, Johnny developed close friendships with Hans and Florence Knoll, as well as with many contemporary artists, architects, and designers both domestically and globally, such as Harry Bertoia, Ed Stone, Jens Risom, Bill Stephens, and Richard Schultz, to name a few. Early in his career, Harry Bertoia asked Johnny to be his agent, recognizing his understanding of the importance of art and design in supporting architectural environments. Johnny and Harry maintained a warm friendship throughout their lives.
Before retiring, Johnny returned to New York, where he continued to nurture the relationships he had cultivated over the years with factory workers, designers, and executives from around the world. Johnny was always sincerely interested in people and thrived in his roles as a salesman and manager. Whether attending business meetings around the world or visiting manufacturing facilities, he enjoyed all aspects of the business and was known for his candid and engaging personality, impeccable honesty, hard work, and appreciation for visionary design. He admired the beauty of well-designed furniture, spaces, and art that enhanced the lives of those who experienced them.
This collection includes pieces from Johnny’s early days with Knoll, to classic designs by Harry Bertoia and other well-known international designers.
— Aliece Hendricks, daughter of John L. Helm
Each time I go East I see something you have done. It is always good, and I feel grateful to you for doing such work in a world where mediocrity is the norm.
Charles Eames in a letter to Florence Knoll
Florence Knoll 1917–2019
Florence Knoll (née Florence Schust) was born in Michigan in 1917. As a child, she was enrolled in the Kingswood School, a division of the Cranbrook School of Art. Eliel and Loja Saarinen, parents of architect Eero Saarinen, quickly noted her talents, and she became a close friend of the family often joining them on vacations to their summer home in Finland. In 1935, Knoll studied urban planning at Columbia University and continued her degree at the Architectural Association of London from 1938 to 1939. World War II brought Knoll back to the United States where she finished her degree in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago studying under Mies van der Rohe. After graduating, Knoll moved to Massachusetts to work in the office of Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer.
Auction Results Florence Knoll
