Paintings and Screens
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Late 20th Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
19th Century Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Stone
18th Century Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint
2010s Italian Modern Paintings and Screens
Brass
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Balinese Tribal Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
Late 17th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Ceramic
Mid-19th Century French Schoolhouse Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paint
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Silk, Hardwood, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Early 1900s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Glass, Wood, Paint
1960s Chinese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Wood
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1940s Argentine Art Deco Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo Raj Paintings and Screens
Textile
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
19th Century Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Paintings and Screens
Paint
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold
1850s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
1790s Asian Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Parchment Paper
17th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
19th Century Scottish Antique Paintings and Screens
Other
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Silk
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
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.