Paintings and Screens
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Bronze
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Elm
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
1930s Korean Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
1920s Japanese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver
1910s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century European Modern Paintings and Screens
Paint
Early 1900s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Tibetan Tibetan Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Fabric
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
1880s British Victorian Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Acrylic, Wood, Paint
Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Wood
20th Century Asian Showa Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
2010s Lebanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Marble, Metal, Brass
17th Century British Georgian Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Linen, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
20th Century Neoclassical Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Acrylic, Wood
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
1970s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk
1920s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
19th Century Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Late 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Hardwood
20th Century Italian Paintings and Screens
Wood
1930s Japanese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Bronze
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century French Paintings and Screens
Copper, Gold Leaf
18th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Bronze
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Chinese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Bronze
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Metal
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century Korean Paintings and Screens
Silk, 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.