Asai Chu
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Prints and Multiples
Giclée
20th Century Qing Abstract Paintings
Ink, Rice Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Textiles
Silk, Wood
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Porcelain
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Ceramics
Stoneware
Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Jade
Vintage 1920s Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
Vintage 1930s Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
Antique 19th Century Edo Paintings
Silk
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Textiles
Textile, Brocade, Silk
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
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.