Silk Embroidered Byobu
Mid-20th Century Korean Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk, Lacquer
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1920s Chinese Chinoiserie Screens and Room Dividers
Lacquer
Antique Late 19th Century Lebanese Moorish Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace ...
Walnut, Shell, Abalone
20th Century Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Rose Quartz
Vintage 1920s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Mahogany
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Floor Mirrors and Full-Length Mir...
Copper
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Crystal, Bronze
20th Century Blanket Chests
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
2010s Italian Other Screens and Room Dividers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Chinese Shadow Boxes
Lacquer, Paper
Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Furniture
Hardwood, Lacquer
Antique 18th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Wood, Lacquer
Vintage 1920s Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood, Lacquer, Paper
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.
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