biombos

A biombo, or biombos in plural, is a folding screen used as a movable room divider. It is typically composed of several hinged panels that can be arranged to create privacy or to partition a space.

The term originates from Spanish, but the objects themselves come from East Asia, particularly China and Japan, where folding screens such as byōbu or pingfeng were traditional. Portuguese and Spanish traders introduced them to Europe and the Americas from the 16th century onward, where they became fashionable furnishings for aristocratic and mercantile households.

Biombos typically consist of multiple panels connected by hinges. Panels may feature wooden frames with screens of silk, paper, or fabric; surfaces are often lacquered or gilded and may include inlays, paintings, or decorative motifs. The designs vary widely, ranging from chinoiserie and landscapes to birds and flowers.

Common configurations include three to six panels, with heights that commonly range from about one to two meters, though variations exist. They function as room dividers, windbreaks, or backdrops for portraits and ceremonies, and have also served as portable rooms in colonial settings and theatrical productions.

In modern contexts, biombos are primarily valued as decorative and historical objects. They are frequently displayed in museums or used in interior spaces for aesthetic purposes. Conservation concerns center on the fragility of lacquer, parchment, and painted surfaces, as well as the integrity of hinged connections.