# Ivory Plaque with Enthroned Mother of God ("The Stroganoff Ivory")

- Date: 950–1025
- Medium: ivory
- Classification: Ivory
- Dimensions: Overall: 25.3 x 17.2 x 1.8 cm (9 15/16 x 6 3/4 x 11/16 in.)
- Culture: Byzantium, Constantinople, Byzantine period
- Credit line: Gift of J. H. Wade
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1925.1293)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1925.1293/1925.1293_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The Mother of God is seated on a lavishly carved, high-backed throne. Two angels hover above, drawing attention to the Christ child poised in her lap. Representations of the enthroned Virgin and Child have a long tradition in Byzantine art, stretching back as far as the 6th century. With one hand raised in blessing, the other holding a scroll, Christ is portrayed here as an emotionless and supernatural child, visualizing for the pious beholder the mystery of his incarnation.