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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

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Antique Red Lacquered 4 Panel Divider Screen
Apr 27, 10:00 AM EDT
Antique Red Lacquered 4 Panel Divider Screen
by World Auction Gallery
Est: $300- $600
$1501 Bid
A CHINESE CARVED BAMBOO INK SCREEN
Apr 30, 11:00 AM JST
A CHINESE CARVED BAMBOO INK SCREEN
by Fukuoka Yumekai Auction
Est: ¥0- ¥0
¥10,0001 Bid
A Chinese lacquered 'Immortals in a Garden' seven-panel chamber screen, 20thC, each panel 40 x 213 cm
May 21, 10:00 AM CEST
A Chinese lacquered 'Immortals in a Garden' seven-panel chamber screen, 20thC, each panel 40 x 213 cm
by Carlo Bonte Auctions
Est: €500- €700
€2401 Bid
CHINESE WHITE HARDSTONE CARVED VASE SCREEN.
Apr 29, 9:00 AM CDT
CHINESE WHITE HARDSTONE CARVED VASE SCREEN.
by Jackson's International
Est: $200- $300
$1001 Bid
YELLOW JADE BUDDHA TABLE SCREEN ON CLOISONNE STAND
May 02, 9:00 AM EDT
YELLOW JADE BUDDHA TABLE SCREEN ON CLOISONNE STAND
by Eden Fine Antiques Galleries LLC
Est: $2,000- $3,000
$4001 Bid
PAIR OF CIRCULAR JADE PANORAMIC TABLE SCREENS
May 02, 9:00 AM EDT
PAIR OF CIRCULAR JADE PANORAMIC TABLE SCREENS
by Eden Fine Antiques Galleries LLC
Est: $10,000- $15,000
$8001 Bid
Fine & Rare Chinese 17/18 C 8-Panel Lacquer Screen
Apr 27, 10:15 AM EDT
Fine & Rare Chinese 17/18 C 8-Panel Lacquer Screen
by Eddie's Auction
Est: $700- $900
$5001 Bid
CHINESE BLACK & GILT PAINTED SCREEN
Apr 27, 1:00 PM EDT
CHINESE BLACK & GILT PAINTED SCREEN
by ACES Gallery
Est: $50- $150
$300 Bids
Antique Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Panels Table Screen Qing Dynasty
May 10, 12:00 PM EDT
Antique Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Panels Table Screen Qing Dynasty
by RB Fine Arts
Est: $350- $650
$1400 Bids
A Chinese Embroidery Wall Screen
Apr 26, 8:00 PM EDT
A Chinese Embroidery Wall Screen
by Annabel's Galleries Inc.
Est: $2,000- $3,000
$8000 Bids
A Chinese Embroidery Wall Screen
Apr 26, 8:00 PM EDT
A Chinese Embroidery Wall Screen
by Annabel's Galleries Inc.
Est: $2,000- $3,000
$8000 Bids
Four assorted Oriental items to include a Chinese
Apr 28, 9:00 AM BST
Four assorted Oriental items to include a Chinese
by Claydon Auctioneers
Est: £30- £50
£300 Bids
QING DYNASTY WHITE JADE CHARACTER STORY FAN-SHAPED SCREEN
May 03, 3:00 PM PDT
QING DYNASTY WHITE JADE CHARACTER STORY FAN-SHAPED SCREEN
by Mega International Auction
Est: $800- $1,200
$6000 Bids
STONE CARVED 'BAMBOO' PLAQUE INSET TABLE SCREEN
May 03, 3:00 PM PDT
STONE CARVED 'BAMBOO' PLAQUE INSET TABLE SCREEN
by Mega International Auction
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$8000 Bids
Chinese Lacquered, Carved and Painted Room Divider
May 16, 10:00 AM EDT
Chinese Lacquered, Carved and Painted Room Divider
by Lewis & Grant Auctions
Est: $400- $600
$2000 Bids
A Group of Three Chinese Scholar's Objects, Table Screen, Bowl, and Jardiniere
Apr 27, 10:00 AM EDT
A Group of Three Chinese Scholar's Objects, Table Screen, Bowl, and Jardiniere
by Topwells
Est: $100- $200
$500 Bids
A Small Chinese Red Lacquer Wear Table Screen
Apr 28, 6:00 PM AEST
A Small Chinese Red Lacquer Wear Table Screen
by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Est: AUD40- AUD60
AUD200 Bids
19th C. Chinese 12-Panel Lacquered Stone Inlaid Screen
Apr 27, 10:00 AM EDT
19th C. Chinese 12-Panel Lacquered Stone Inlaid Screen
by Atlanta Auction Gallery, ltd
Est: $4,000- $8,000
$1,0000 Bids
CHINESE MOONSTONE TABLE SCREEN
May 02, 9:00 AM EDT
CHINESE MOONSTONE TABLE SCREEN
by Eden Fine Antiques Galleries LLC
Est: $2,000- $3,000
$4000 Bids
Chinese Coromandel 4-Panel Floor Screen
May 15, 11:00 AM EDT
Chinese Coromandel 4-Panel Floor Screen
by Auctions at Showplace
Est: $400- $600
$1000 Bids
Chinese Painted Stone Plaque Table Screen
May 01, 10:00 AM EDT
Chinese Painted Stone Plaque Table Screen
by Nye & Company
Est: $600- $900
$3000 Bids
Chinese Hongmu-Framed Table Screen
May 01, 10:00 AM EDT
Chinese Hongmu-Framed Table Screen
by Nye & Company
Est: $250- $350
$1250 Bids
Chinese Incised Decorated Six-Panel Floor Screen
May 01, 10:00 AM EDT
Chinese Incised Decorated Six-Panel Floor Screen
by Nye & Company
Est: $500- $700
$2500 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Chinese Room Screens - General


DotDot Art Gallery Inc

DotDot Art Gallery Inc

William's Auctions, LLC

William's Auctions, LLC

Hotspot Auctions

Hotspot Auctions