Paintings and Screens
1950s American British Colonial Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paint, Canvas
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
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
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Ceramic
Mid-18th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Paintings and Screens
Metal
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
20th Century Chinese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Gold
19th Century Chinese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Bronze
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
1940s Chinese Chinese Export Vintage Paintings and Screens
Stone
1880s French Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
18th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Late 19th Century Chinese Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Bamboo
1970s Hong Kong Post-Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Bronze
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
2010s Chinese Modern Paintings and Screens
Bronze
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
1930s Korean Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver
1980s American Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
1970s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Canvas
1920s Japanese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Bronze
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Elm
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.