Paintings and Screens
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Hardwood, Paper
Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Bamboo
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Plexiglass, Paper, Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Wood
17th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Giltwood, Paint
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1880s Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Hardwood, Paper
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-19th Century Korean Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Wood, Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Neoclassical Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
1930s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Softwood
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Soapstone
Late 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Tibetan Tibetan Antique Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Silk
Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
18th Century Tibetan Tibetan Antique Paintings and Screens
Linen, Paint
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Hardwood
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Neoclassical Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Wood
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paint, Brocade, Silk, Acrylic
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Fabric
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Acrylic, Wood
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper, Silk
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Porcelain, Wood
Early 1900s Chinese Art Nouveau Antique Paintings and Screens
Stained Glass, Wood
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Elm
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1920s Chinese Qing Vintage Paintings and Screens
Stone
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Neoclassical Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Wood
Late 19th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Neoclassical Paintings and Screens
Wood, Canvas, Acrylic
20th Century Neoclassical Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Acrylic, Wood
1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, 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.