19th Century Chinoiserie Folding Screen, Hand-Painted Leather

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Four Panel Leather Chinoiserie Folding Screen. Screen is crafted in leather over wood panels and joined by metal hinges. Each … Read more Four Panel Leather Chinoiserie Folding Screen. Screen is crafted in leather over wood panels and joined by metal hinges. Each panel is intricately hand-painted with lively continuous narrative scenes depicting figures in traditional dress engaged in courtly and pastoral activities. Landscapes unfold across the surface with pagodas, waterways, flowering trees, and distant horizons, populated by birds in flight and horses in motion. The composition reflects the storytelling tradition seen in Chinese decorative arts, where scenes of daily life, nature, and leisure were commonly rendered across multi-paneled screens. The palette is warm and atmospheric, dominated by tones of rust, brown, and green, with highlights in white and gilt. The surfaces are framed by decorative borders featuring stylized motifs and accented with evenly spaced brass studs, lending both textural and visual rhythm. The aged patina enhances the depth of the painted decoration. Reverse side has floral painted panels, making this screen usable from any angle.
Today, these screens can be used as sculptural room dividers, as dramatic backdrops in living rooms or bedrooms, or even mounted as wall art. Their narrative imagery and rich coloration make them especially effective in eclectic, traditional, or globally inspired interiors, while also providing contrast in more contemporary settings.
Measurements listed are for each panel individually. See less