Paintings and Screens
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
17th Century Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
19th Century French Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
1670s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Silk
20th Century Chinese Hollywood Regency Paintings and Screens
Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Bamboo
Early 20th Century Meiji Paintings and Screens
Metal, Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
1670s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
1670s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
1980s Asian Chinoiserie Vintage Paintings and Screens
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 19th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Leather, Wood
1670s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Linen, Silk
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
1990s British Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Mid-19th Century Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Giltwood
20th Century Korean Showa Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
2010s Italian Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Quartz
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Agate
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Metal, Gold Leaf
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Japonisme Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint, Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Metal, Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Metal
18th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Giltwood
Late 19th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Other
17th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 20th Century American Modern Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Late 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Hollywood Regency Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood
20th Century Vietnamese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Eggshell, Mother-of-Pearl
Early 19th Century British Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Virgin Islands Modern Paintings and Screens
Sandstone
20th Century Unknown Paintings and Screens
Paper
1880s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
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.