Behind the screen

Numerous ancient Chinese novels, such as the classic Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin, include love scenes set behind a screen. It was against decorum for a young woman to express her feelings for a man face to face, so the screen provided a place to hide, but also allowed glimpses of her beloved.

During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 24), screens were placed behind the emperor's throne, decorated with pictures of battle axes, which were used to symbolize imperial power.

Over time Chinese households began to use screens for purely decorative purposes. Delicate in design and usually smaller than a practical screen, these decorative ones were normally owned by nobles.

One such screen, an 18th century imperial table screen measuring 26 centimeters by 18 centimeters, featuring a white jade disc at its center, sold for more than $1.3 million at the French auction house Galeries de Chartres in October.

During the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) ordinary households began to use screens, replacing the silk panels with paper ones. Paper had by then become a common commodity in China.

Poetry was popular at the time, and verses were often painted onto screens.

Legend has it that Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty wrote epigrams to himself on his screens, to keep him from being a bad ruler. And it was common to find screens painted with images of virtuous men of great achievement as role models for a household's children. The wealthy sometimes commissioned famous artists to paint their screens.

From the 17th century, Chinese screens began to be imported to Europe, the largest market being France.

The fashion designer Coco Chanel was an avid screen collector and once said, "I've loved Chinese screens since I was 18 years old. I nearly fainted with joy when, entering a Chinese shop, I saw a Coromandel (screen) for the first time. Screens were the first thing I bought."