Japanese Boxed Zushi Shrine with Two Deities Riding Dragon

Open the doors, and two fierce deities are standing on a dragon.

This boxed zushi shrine with two deities riding a dragon comes from Japan, early 19th century, in gilt and polychrome wood with bronze fittings. Zushi are small cabinet-like shrines, made to house Buddhist images or scriptures behind doors. The interior glows with gold leaf, which covers both pairs of folding doors. Inside, the two armored figures stand on a coiling dark dragon above dark and gilded clouds, on a carved pedestal. A black lacquer-like roof curves overhead. Twenty and three quarter inches high and 18 inches wide.

Close the doors and it is a black box. Open them and it is not.