Abbey of Saint Denis. Late Antique Porphyry Vase (4th century?)
provided with eagle
embellishment by Abbot Suger, ca. 1140. Suger writes in De Administratione:
And further we adapted for the service of the altar, with the aid of
gold and silver material, a porphyry vase, made admirable by the hand of
the sculptor and polisher, after it had lain idly in a chest for many years,
coverting it from a flagon into the shape of an eagle; and we had the following
verses inscribed on the vase:
This stone deserves to be enclosed in gems and gold.
It was marble, but in these (settings) it is more precious than
marble.
