Loading Spinner

Chinese Room Screens - General

Chinese screens serve a variety of purposes. While many are solely for decoration, some Chinese screens are also used in order to section up an open space, or even to create a new room altogether. Elegant in construction, and often decorated with beautifully painted or otherwise rendered scenes and patterns, a Chinese room screen also serves as a beautiful visual focal point for any room.

One-paneled screens have existed since antiquity. They have been used historically since the Eastern Zhou period, between 771 to 256 B.C., with the invention of the folding screen occurring in the Han dynasty. These screens can be made entirely of lacquered wood, or with wooden frames with silk or paper mounted on. The technique of using lacquered wood to create standing screens is called “coromandel." Coromandel screens are first lacquered then painted upon or decorated with inlays, stones, or other means.


Quick Facts

  • The Tang dynasty yielded a rising popularity of folding screens. During this time, it was not uncommon for painters and calligraphers to be commissioned to decorate a silk or paper folding screen; it became the ideal way of displaying artwork
  • Coco Chanel was known for having loved and collected Chinese folding screens. She was particularly drawn to coromandel screens
  • Though screens are mostly used for decorative purposes now, the original practical use of screens was to block drafts in a home

Recommended Items at Auction

See all items

bp parity badge
Forbidden City Wanhua Zianrui Tabletop Ornamental Screen
Feb 17, 6:00 PM EST
Forbidden City Wanhua Zianrui Tabletop Ornamental Screen
by Apple Tree Auction Center
Est: $0- $0
$93 Bids
Chinese Painted Floral 8-Panel Room Screen
Mar 06, 5:00 PM PST
Chinese Painted Floral 8-Panel Room Screen
by MBA Seattle Auction LLC
Est: $500- $1,000
$2501 Bid
A CHINESE BLACK LACQUERED SEVEN-FOLD SCREEN
Mar 04, 6:00 PM AEDT
A CHINESE BLACK LACQUERED SEVEN-FOLD SCREEN
by Leonard Joel
Est: AUD500- AUD800
AUD4501 Bid
A Chinese coromandel lacquer eight panel floor screen
Feb 26, 10:00 AM PST
A Chinese coromandel lacquer eight panel floor screen
by Andrew Jones Auctions
Est: $1,500- $2,000
$7501 Bid
AN INCISED AND INSCRIBED JADE TABLE SCREEN
Feb 23, 9:30 AM EST
AN INCISED AND INSCRIBED JADE TABLE SCREEN
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $3,000- $4,000
$5000 Bids
AN INCISED JADE PLAQUE INLAID WOODEN TABLE SCREEN
Feb 23, 9:30 AM EST
AN INCISED JADE PLAQUE INLAID WOODEN TABLE SCREEN
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $4,000- $5,000
$7000 Bids
Four Screens of Cold Fragrance and Light Flowers
Mar 09, 12:00 PM CST
Four Screens of Cold Fragrance and Light Flowers
by Johhan Auction
Est: NT$20,000- NT$0
NT$20,0000 Bids
Four screens of flowers and birds of four seasons
Mar 09, 12:00 PM CST
Four screens of flowers and birds of four seasons
by Johhan Auction
Est: NT$30,000- NT$50,000
NT$30,0000 Bids
Four Screens of Songhe Changchun
Mar 09, 12:00 PM CST
Four Screens of Songhe Changchun
by Johhan Auction
Est: NT$30,000- NT$50,000
NT$30,0000 Bids
Four screens of flowers and birds of four seasons
Mar 09, 12:00 PM CST
Four screens of flowers and birds of four seasons
by Johhan Auction
Est: NT$30,000- NT$50,000
NT$30,0000 Bids
Four Screens of Autumn Chrysanthemums
Mar 09, 12:00 PM CST
Four Screens of Autumn Chrysanthemums
by Johhan Auction
Est: NT$30,000- NT$50,000
NT$30,0000 Bids
Four screens
Mar 09, 12:00 PM CST
Four screens
by Johhan Auction
Est: NT$60,000- NT$80,000
NT$60,0000 Bids
Plum, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum Four-panel Screen
Mar 09, 12:00 PM CST
Plum, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum Four-panel Screen
by Johhan Auction
Est: NT$20,000- NT$0
NT$20,0000 Bids
Bamboo four-panel screen
Mar 09, 12:00 PM CST
Bamboo four-panel screen
by Johhan Auction
Est: NT$40,000- NT$80,000
NT$40,0000 Bids
A FINE CARVED JADE TABLE SCREEN
Feb 23, 9:30 AM EST
A FINE CARVED JADE TABLE SCREEN
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $10,000- $20,000
$2,0000 Bids
A CARVED WHITE JADE TABLE SCREEN
Feb 23, 9:30 AM EST
A CARVED WHITE JADE TABLE SCREEN
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $4,000- $5,000
$7000 Bids
Chinese Hardstone & Wood Table Screen, 19th C.
Mar 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Chinese Hardstone & Wood Table Screen, 19th C.
by Auctions at Showplace
Est: $100- $200
$250 Bids
SU QIN WANG, CALLIGRAPHY, SMALL FOUR-PANEL FOLDING SCREEN
Feb 22, 11:00 AM JST
SU QIN WANG, CALLIGRAPHY, SMALL FOUR-PANEL FOLDING SCREEN
by Fukuoka Yumekai Auction
Est: ¥0- ¥0
¥10,0000 Bids
A CARVED TIANHUANG INLAID CLOISONNE ENAMEL TABLE SCREEN
Feb 23, 9:30 AM EST
A CARVED TIANHUANG INLAID CLOISONNE ENAMEL TABLE SCREEN
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $15,000- $25,000
$2,5000 Bids
QING DYNASTY'S "HUNDRED TREASURES INLAID ORCHID STONE FLOWER HANGING SCREEN"
Mar 01, 3:00 PM PST
QING DYNASTY'S "HUNDRED TREASURES INLAID ORCHID STONE FLOWER HANGING SCREEN"
by Mega International Auction
Est: $3,000- $4,000
$2,2000 Bids
QING DYNASTY. ZHI'AN BAMBOO CARVED SONGXIA YAJU SCREEN
Mar 01, 3:00 PM PST
QING DYNASTY. ZHI'AN BAMBOO CARVED SONGXIA YAJU SCREEN
by Mega International Auction
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$8000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Chinese Room Screens - General


Eden Fine Antiques Galleries LLC

Eden Fine Antiques Galleries LLC

William's Auctions, LLC

William's Auctions, LLC

Johhan Auction

Johhan Auction

Berkeley Auction Gallery

Berkeley Auction Gallery