Four-Panel Screen with Painted Theatrical Costume Figures on Raised Panels

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This vintage four-panel Chinese screen presents a dramatic procession of twelve historic costume figures, each hand-painted and raised in relief … Read more This vintage four-panel Chinese screen presents a dramatic procession of twelve historic costume figures, each hand-painted and raised in relief against a warm ochre ground. Arranged in portrait-style vignettes, the characters wear stylized garments drawn from 18th- and 19th-century European and Asian dress—featuring frock coats, tricorn hats, robes, breeches, and sashes. Each figure appears poised for performance, as if plucked from a costume book or mid-century stage design.

Mounted like framed portraits, the figures are set into recessed panels with black-painted borders and elevated mounts, adding sculptural depth and a curated, gallery-like feel. The ochre background and black-and-cream trim echo the visual rhythm of theater wings or museum walls, enhancing the screen’s formal composition and narrative appeal.

Whether used as a room divider or wall-mounted statement piece, this screen brings both symmetry and storytelling to a space. It would pair beautifully in a set design studio, costume department, or any interior with a flair for the dramatic, historic, or decorative arts. Hinged wood construction ensures stability and flexible display. See less