Paintings and Screens
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
1980s Balinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Lacquer, Paper
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
1950s Asian Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
1930s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 2000s Chinese Modern Paintings and Screens
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Wood
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Glass
20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
1850s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Paper, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Asian Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary English Chippendale Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Showa Antique Paintings and Screens
Bronze
Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Paintings and Screens
Metal
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Mirror, Paint
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-20th Century Chinese Other Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Wood
Late 18th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Paintings and Screens
Mirror
Late 18th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
1860s Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Stone
21st Century and Contemporary Paintings and Screens
Aluminum
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Wood
1980s North American Vintage Paintings and Screens
Masonite
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
20th Century Southeast Asian Hollywood Regency Paintings and Screens
Teak
18th Century Moroccan Islamic Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century French Directoire Paintings and Screens
Wood, Fabric, Glass
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.