Paintings and Screens
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Nepalese Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Wood, Paint
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Paintings and Screens
Textile, Wood, Rosewood
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Paintings and Screens
Copper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Giltwood, Paint, Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
1950s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paint
19th Century Chinese Ming Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Giltwood
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Mid-19th Century Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century English Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
19th Century Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Plexiglass, Paper
20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper, Silk
19th Century Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Silk, Paint
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Paintings and Screens
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Chinese Victorian Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
Late 18th Century Asian Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
1990s American Expressionist Paintings and Screens
Acrylic, Paint
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
18th Century French Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
19th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Gold
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
1980s Chinese Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Canadian Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Paintings and Screens
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Hollywood Regency Paintings and Screens
Textile, Wood
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1990s American Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Paintings and Screens
Bamboo
1940s Japanese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 2000s Chinese Paintings and Screens
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.