Carlota Ige
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Metal
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20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Paper
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
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Vintage 1930s Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
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Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
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Recent Sales
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Metal, Gold Leaf
Finding the Right paintings-screens for You
Traditional Asian paintings were often created on scrolls and folding screens. Artisans made screens that could be folded up or spread out by connecting several panels using hinges. Today, antique Asian folding screens and paintings are sophisticated decorative accents that can serve as makeshift partitions to ensure privacy.
The original folding screens were created by Chinese artists. The earliest record of screens comes from the 2nd century B.C., and surviving examples date back to the Ming dynasty. Chinese painting utilizes many of the same tools as calligraphy — these screens were crafted from wood with painted panels featuring striking art or calligraphy that told cultural stories or represented nature and life in the area.
The practice was introduced to Japan, where paintings for screens were made on paper and silk, in the 8th century. These paintings frequently feature subjects such as landscapes, animals, flowers and Buddhist religious themes. Along with screens for tea ceremonies and dance backgrounds, there were screens for use in Shinto and Buddhist temples.
In the 17th century, screens began to be imported to Europe where their popularity grew. Coco Chanel famously collected Coromandel folding screens.
Traditional Asian paintings can make a tasteful addition to any wall, and screens can be used as decoration or, in the case of larger iterations, as an aesthetic way to divide a large room. Browse the selection of antique Asian paintings and screens from a variety of styles and eras on 1stDibs.