[1] The vase is a medieval spolia piece and is displayed along with the French regalia in the Galerie d'Apollon at the Louvre in Paris.

[3] The vase takes the form of an eagle, a metaphor for Jesus Christ that served as a symbol of Christianity after Rome transitioned from the practice of pagan beliefs.

"[1] In his own words, he determined to adapt and transfer (adaptavimus ... transferre) it into a liturgical vessel "in the form of an eagle" (in aquilae formam), a symbol of Christ.

[8] Two large engravings from 1706 depict the treasury of Saint-Denis (including the eagle vase) as it was then displayed, in a cabinet.

[9]The eagle and three of Suger's other liturgical vessels—Queen Eleanor's vase and King Roger's decanter, both of rock crystal, and a sardonyx ewer—ended up in the Galerie d'Apollon at the Louvre.

The neck of the bird as well as the legs and tail all resemble an eagle's anatomy, and can be argued in favor of the vase's title.

What is left of the eagle, the head, feet, and wings, are made up of other materials that were added to the amphora, including gold (or gilt silver), red porphyry, and niello.

Because the vase was repurposed, it is also a form of interpretatio christiana, which refers to the transformation of pagan materials into a Christian context, such as Suger's Eagle.

Red porphyry is commonly used for decoritive purpose and was popular in Rome more so than anywhere else, the Romans importing it in mass quantities to use for things like tile, columns, sculptures, and vases, such as Suger's Eagle.

The reason for the popularity of red porphyry in Rome was highly due to its association with royalty and imperial power.

The many works that were made for Roman royalty have become a part of a large collection of red porphyry pieces, which have been found and preserved over time.