After a more than two-decade long trade embargo, opportunity to trade with China began after President Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China in 1972. To seize this opportunity, L'ART de CHINE was founded by Reynold Tom along with his siblings Elizabeth, Rosabelle, Helen and Raymond in 1975. As one of the first American company to import gift items from the People's Republic of China, many of the items were specifically developed and designed to utilize the hand-crafted skills of the workers in China while meeting the needs of the American consumer. L'ART de CHINE products included Petit Point, Boxes of various sorts (Wood Burnt, Hand-painted, Embroidered Silk, Silk & Satin, Cotton-covered, Bamboo Art, Jewelry,), Stationery, Stationery Accessories, Silk Fashion Accessories, Gourmet Linen and Tableware, Chinese Folk Art, Clutches, various sorts of Christmas Ornaments ( Petit Point, Silk Satin Appliqued, Corduroy, Paper Mache, Hand Knit), Toys (stuffed animals made of various materials.) Many of the company's exclusive designs were reflected in the variety of dinnerware, silk petit point tapestries and holiday ornaments and were available in department and specialty stores throughout the USA. Due to the untimely death of its founder, Reynold Tom, the company was sold in 1989.
