Find a variety of Japanese silk screens available on 1stDibs. The range of distinct Japanese silk screens — often made from
fabric,
silk and
wood — can elevate any home. Find 610 antique and vintage Japanese silk screens at 1stDibs now, or shop our selection of 41 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished furniture. Japanese silk screens have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century.
Mid-Century Modern,
Modern and
Art Deco Japanese silk screens are consistently popular styles. Japanese silk screens have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by
Takakura Zaiko,
Edward William Godwin and
Ishida Yutei are consistently popular.
Japanese silk screens can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $3,767, while the lowest priced sells for $88 and the highest can go for as much as $155,000.
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.