Paintings and Screens
1650s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Bamboo, Wood
1890s Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Chinese Ming Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-19th Century Asian Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Plexiglass, Paper, Wood
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Paintings and Screens
Wood
1970s French Expressionist Vintage Paintings and Screens
Chrome
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk, Brocade
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
1970s Indian Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century American Ming Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Hollywood Regency Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1830s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Iron
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1860s Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
1970s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
17th Century Indian Archaistic Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Marble
1960s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Feathers, Hardwood
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century French Directoire Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Mahogany
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Textile, Wood
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Early 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1960s Chinese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Anglo-Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood, Giltwood
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.