Paintings and Screens
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Fabric
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Bronze
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Mid-20th Century German Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 20th Century Indian Paintings and Screens
Paper
1940s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper, Wood
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Hardwood
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Elm
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Mid-19th Century Asian Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Canadian Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Canvas
1870s Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
1640s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
20th Century Chinese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Lacquer, Paint, Wood
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Silk, Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Glass
1860s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
18th Century Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Elm, Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Hardwood
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Late 20th Century Indian Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Mexican Paintings and Screens
Iron
20th Century Chinese Ming Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Balinese Dutch Colonial Paintings and Screens
Other
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Fabric
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
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.