Paintings and Screens
20th Century Southeast Asian Hollywood Regency Paintings and Screens
Teak
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk, Brocade
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Brass, Enamel
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1950s Balinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Paint
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1970s French Expressionist Vintage Paintings and Screens
Chrome
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 17th Century Chinese Ming Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Late 19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
17th Century Indian Archaistic Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1910s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Silk
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
1990s American Other Paintings and Screens
Paint
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
1920s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Bone, Hardwood
Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Thai Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper, Wood, Paint
2010s Japanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Linen
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Plexiglass, Paper, Wood
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1970s Indian Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Elm
Early 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Anglo-Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood, Giltwood
20th Century Chinese Ming Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Lacquer, Paper
1960s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Hardwood
1970s Unknown Chinoiserie Vintage Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Paper
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Elm
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.