Paintings and Screens
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 1800s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Japanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Linen
Early 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century English Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
19th Century Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Elm
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century English Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Gold
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Elm
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Paintings and Screens
Fabric
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Linen
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Lacquer
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
2010s Chinese Modern Paintings and Screens
Ash
Late 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Bamboo
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Elm, Pine
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Paintings and Screens
Rosewood
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Paintings and Screens
Metal
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Chinese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Bronze
1880s French Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Chinese Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Bamboo
19th Century Asian Antique 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.