Paintings and Screens
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Silver
20th Century Chinese Ming Paintings and Screens
Wood
1920s Chinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century French Paintings and Screens
Copper, Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
2010s Japanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Linen
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Indonesian Paintings and Screens
Paint
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Enamel
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paint
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Acrylic, Wood
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Chinese Modern Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
19th Century Japanese Showa Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
2010s Japanese Japonisme Paintings and Screens
Sandstone
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Paintings and Screens
Acrylic, Paper
1980s Victorian Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paint
2010s Japanese Japonisme Paintings and Screens
Sandstone
Mid-19th Century Southeast Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
1950s Balinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Paint
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Mid-20th Century Indian Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Neoclassical Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Acrylic, Wood
19th Century Japanese Showa Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Louis XV Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Giltwood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Metal
1980s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Early 19th Century Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Elm
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
1950s Balinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Paint
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Bronze
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Bronze
1830s Antique Paintings and Screens
Other
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Wood
1980s American Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Mid-20th Century American Other Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 1900s Balinese Folk Art Antique Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Paint
1950s Balinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Paint
Mid-20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Bronze
20th Century Neoclassical Paintings and Screens
Wood, Canvas, Acrylic
19th Century Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Wood
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Canvas
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.