Paintings and Screens
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Fabric
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Leather, Fabric, Textile, Tapestry, Thread, Natural Fiber, G...
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Gold
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-20th Century Korean Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Wood, Paint, Paper
Mid-20th Century Korean Paintings and Screens
Paper, Silk
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Metal
20th Century American Ming Paintings and Screens
Wood
1920s Chinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
1920s Chinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Asian Taisho Paintings and Screens
Gold, Silver
1920s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
1920s Chinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Plexiglass, Paper, Wood
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Paintings and Screens
Mahogany
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Wood
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
1960s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Hardwood
20th Century French Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Lacquer
1990s Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Foil
Late 20th Century Japonisme Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
Early 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Paper
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper, Silk
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 1900s French French Provincial Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
1950s French Vintage Paintings and Screens
Stone
1930s Japanese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Bronze
1930s Japanese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Bronze
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Silk
20th Century Italian Paintings and Screens
Wood
Late 20th Century Asian Modern Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
Late 20th Century American Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Birch, Acrylic
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Metal
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Enamel
1960s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Korean Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Textile
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Fabric, Plexiglass
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Aluminum
1940s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Wood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
1930s Korean Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
20th Century Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Wood
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.