Paintings and Screens
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings and Screens
Crystal, Brass, Iron
18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
20th Century Chinese Ming Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1970s Israeli Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
2010s Chinese Modern Paintings and Screens
Pine, Oak
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Fabric
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1960s Japanese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Asian Paintings and Screens
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
Mid-20th Century Asian Showa Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Linen, Silk, Plexiglass, Wood, Lacquer, Paper
20th Century Bhutanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Canvas
Mid-18th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Anglo Raj Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Asian Moorish Paintings and Screens
Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Giltwood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Paper
1950s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Soapstone
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
1920s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk
1960s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Porcelain, Wood
1920s Indonesian Arts and Crafts Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-19th Century Korean Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Wood, Paper
1930s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
1930s American Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
1830s Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint
20th Century Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
1830s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Asian Taisho Paintings and Screens
Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Asian Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary American Paintings and Screens
Paper
1980s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paint
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
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.