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Japanese Silk Screens

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Skeletons at Play, Watercolors on Silk Attributed to Kawanabe Kyosai
Located in London, GB
A pair of watercolours on silk, dusted with mica and mounted as wall scrolls. Kawanabe Kyosai
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens

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Japanese Silk Screens For Sale on 1stDibs

Find a variety of Japanese silk screens available on 1stDibs. The range of distinct Japanese silk screens — often made from fabric, silk and wood — can elevate any home. Find 610 antique and vintage Japanese silk screens at 1stDibs now, or shop our selection of 41 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished furniture. Japanese silk screens have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Mid-Century Modern, Modern and Art Deco Japanese silk screens are consistently popular styles. Japanese silk screens have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Takakura Zaiko, Edward William Godwin and Ishida Yutei are consistently popular.

How Much are Japanese Silk Screens?

Japanese silk screens can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $3,767, while the lowest priced sells for $88 and the highest can go for as much as $155,000.

Finding the Right Paintings-screens for You

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.

Questions About Japanese Silk Screens
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Japanese screen painting is the art of creating byōbu, or Japanese screens. Byōbu vary in subject matter and style. The screens are free-standing, portable and decorated with symbolic images or calligraphy. It is common to find byōbu in pairs with at least two panels. Shop a selection of byōbu on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    Japanese screens are called Byōbu and are made from many panels with beautiful calligraphy and paintings. These folding screens can be a decorative and interesting way to separate rooms in a living space. Find a collection of Japanese screens for sale on 1stDibs.
  • Lotus Gallery
    Lotus GalleryMarch 17, 2021
    A Japanese low screen was traditionally used while seated upon the floor. The low screen would block wind and drafts, provide limited privacy, and are often decorated with seasonal themes.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A Japanese silk robe is also known as a kimono, sometimes also called a wafuku or a gofuku. Traditionally these brilliantly colored robes are actually layered dresses that fold across the front and are held together with a cloth belt called an obi. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary kimonos from top sellers around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A Japanese silk painting is identifiable by its depictions of everyday life and scenes that are abundant with detail. The red seal or chop can also help you determine the artist of the piece. You can shop a collection of expertly vetted Japanese silk paintings from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.