Paintings and Screens
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
19th Century Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Paper, Wood, Paint
18th Century Moroccan Islamic Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century French Directoire Paintings and Screens
Wood, Fabric, Glass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Bronze
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Copper
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Showa Antique Paintings and Screens
Bronze
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Early 20th Century Indonesian Paintings and Screens
Paint, Canvas
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
1970s Unknown Chinoiserie Vintage Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Paper
20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Elm
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
1940s American Craftsman Vintage Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Wood
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Paint, Giltwood
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Wood
Late 19th Century Hollywood Regency Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Giltwood
Late 19th Century Thai Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
Early 19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Paint
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
Late 19th Century Thai Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
1980s Chinese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Fabric
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
1950s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Multi-gemstone
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
1950s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
1950s Korean Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Stone
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Gold
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Paper
Antique Asian Paintings and Screens
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.