Paintings and Screens
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold, Bronze, Gold Leaf
19th Century Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Ming Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Gold, Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Wood
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Bronze
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Acrylic, Paint
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1920s Chinese Chinese Export Vintage Paintings and Screens
Soapstone
2010s Japanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Linen
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Persian Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
18th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold, Bronze, Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone
2010s Japanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Linen
1970s Chinese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Japanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Linen
20th Century Asian Showa Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
2010s Nepalese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Brass
18th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold, Bronze, Gold Leaf
2010s Nepalese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Paper
17th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Glass
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Indian Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Belgian Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
19th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint, Silk
Late 19th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
1940s Chinese Chinoiserie Vintage Paintings and Screens
Soapstone
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Indian Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
1870s Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1840s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Silk
20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
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.