Paintings and Screens
20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Wood
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper, Silk
19th Century Mongolian Antique Paintings and Screens
Fabric
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Soapstone, Brass
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Linen
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Enamel
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Lacquer
1950s Thai Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper, Silk
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
Late 17th Century Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
1890s Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paintings and Screens
Metal
Mid-19th Century Southeast Asian Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Italian Paintings and Screens
Wood
1930s American Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
1920s Japanese Taisho Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Late 20th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Marble
1850s Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century Asian Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-18th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Indian Agra Paintings and Screens
Paper
1930s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paper
Late 19th Century Tibetan Tibetan Antique Paintings and Screens
Linen, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper, Silk
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Italian Modern Paintings and Screens
Steel
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk
1960s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Japanese Modern Paintings and Screens
Linen
1940s Indonesian Arts and Crafts Vintage Paintings and Screens
Teak
Early 20th Century Central Asian Arts and Crafts Paintings and Screens
Paper
1880s Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Hardwood, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
1980s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
2010s Chinese Modern Paintings and Screens
Oak, Pine
Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Antique Paintings and Screens
Brocade, Silk, Paper
Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
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.