Paintings and Screens
20th Century Paintings and Screens
Silk, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass
20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Lacquer, Paper
1980s Balinese Folk Art Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Silk
Mid-20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Bronze
1950s Asian Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
1850s Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
1930s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Wood
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Glass
20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Brass
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Paper, Wood, Paint
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Paintings and Screens
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silk, Wood, Paper
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
1950s Korean Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
1950s French Vintage Paintings and Screens
Canvas
19th Century German Antique Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Paint
1860s Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Paintings and Screens
Wood
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Paintings and Screens
Glass, Mirror, Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Paper
1950s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paintings and Screens
Multi-gemstone
21st Century and Contemporary English Chippendale Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Paintings and Screens
Metal
1880s Japanese Meiji Antique Paintings and Screens
Paper
1950s Vintage Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
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
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Silver Leaf
19th Century Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
1980s Chinese Vintage Paintings and Screens
Fabric
19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
1950s Japanese Showa Vintage Paintings and Screens
Paper
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji 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.