The use of decorative room dividers and screens dates back thousands of years. Thought of as primarily of Asian origin, decorative screens and room dividers have been used the world over. Decorative room dividers are used to create space, accent an interior decorating theme or create an area of privacy.

The traditional image of a divider screen or room divider has several tall and narrow panels, fastened together by metal or fabric hinges. The entire screen is usually portable, lending to its utility. The individual panels are most commonly referred to as leaves. A room divider can have as few as a single leaf. Some styles of screens can be quite large, having as many as twelve leaves or more. Room dividers and screens of Japanese and Chinese origin can range from plainly utilitarian to artistically decorative.

Decorative room dividers have origins in several cultures. Early Chinese ruling dynasties are credited with the creation of highly unique and decorative furniture and room accents. Screens of Chinese origin very often portray scenes of everyday life, from royalty to the lives of common people. Attitudes towards certain social mores and expectations were frequently depicted. Illustrations of traditional gender and socioeconomic roles help to reinforce the hierarchical structure of early Chinese society. Landscape scenes are also a very common genre in screen art.

Many Chinese wooden screens were made of simple pine and painted in dark enamels with black being the dominate color. The dark background lends itself very well to the use of color in illustrations. Dark browns and other dark earth tone shades are also used as background colors. Hand carving of the wood is often referred to as bantam work. The carvings can be quite intricate and may lend to or merely accent the theme of the illustrations. It was common for highly decorative screens to be adorned with jade, precious stones and other embellishments.

Bantam work, or carving, is a characteristic of Coromandel screens. Illustrations are sketched on the leaf and carvings are done to provide a relief. While carving is often seen in Chinese divider screens, the bantam work used in the creation of Coromandel room dividers are very unique. In order provide a greater degree of depth and visual relief, clay is applied to the leaf before carving began. After the bantam work is completed, several layers of lacquer are applied. The Coromandel screen is completed when the illustrations and images are painted, resulting in a beautiful multi dimensional look that makes antique examples of this art form highly collectible.

The origin of the term Coromandel refers to a coastal region in southwest India. Long under the colonial control of European powers, the Coromandel Coast was a major center of trade. Many of the goods taken from China during the seventeen and eighteen hundreds were thought to ship from the Coromandel Coast enroute to markets in Europe.

Many Japanese style screens and room dividers are characterized by wooded frames combined with thin layers of rice paper or fabric. Bamboo or available hardwoods such as cherry are used for the frames. Often referred to as shoji screens, the paper or fabric may be painted or otherwise imprinted with designs and illustrations.

The design of the screen would often match or accent the pocket doors that are a characteristic of many Japanese homes. In keep with the utilitarian nature of Japanese culture, room dividers and screens are consistent with the home life of many Japanese. Rooms were often used for multiple purposes. A room used as a gathering place or dining during the day may be turned into a bedroom at night.

The use of room dividers can be both decorative and practical. From the need for privacy to conserving heat, room dividers have a long and interesting history. Most of us think of screens and room dividers in a very traditional way. Tall panels, bound together by metal or fabric hinges are the image most of us conjure up. Letís not forget that many other things can be used as a room divider, short of building a wall. Decorative tapestries and curtains can serve exactly the same function.

The growth of suburbia created some interesting lifestyle changes as Americans began to enjoy what many folks describe as patio living. Outdoor furniture designs are taking a turn towards the decorative and luxurious. Lighting, planters and other decorative accents are being joined by outdoor dividers screens. Like indoor room dividers, outdoor divider screens can provide a level of privacy from that nosey neighbor or simply serve to create a pleasant atmosphere for your deck or patio.