Paintings and Screens
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1940s Chinese Chinese Export Vintage Paintings and Screens
Stone
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
20th Century Unknown Other Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1970s Hong Kong Post-Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk, Brocade
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk, Bamboo
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
2010s Hong Kong Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Mid-20th Century Paintings and Screens
Paint
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
20th Century Indian Modern Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Lebanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Marble, Metal, Brass
1970s Chinoiserie Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
1980s American Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Chinese Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Bamboo
Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 1900s Tibetan Antique Paintings and Screens
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
1970s Hungarian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
1980s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paint
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Glass
1970s Chinoiserie Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 20th Century Japonisme Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
2010s American Paintings and Screens
Paint
19th Century Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Early 20th Century Korean Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Textile, Brocade
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.