Paintings and Screens
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Bamboo, Wood
Mid-18th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Bamboo, Wood
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 1900s Balinese Folk Art Antique Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Paint
Mid-19th Century Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf, Brass
1960s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper, Paint, Bamboo
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1940s Asian Vintage Paintings and Screens
Glass, Hardwood, Paint
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Metal, Gold Leaf
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Thai Other Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 20th Century Balinese Other Paintings and Screens
Canvas
19th Century Chinese Ming Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Giltwood
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Other, Silver Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
1970s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Hardwood, Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Gold
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 1800s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Metal, Brass
1950s Balinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Cotton, Paint
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
Mid-18th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint
Mid-19th Century Asian Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 1900s Korean Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
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.