Rule number one: The audience rarely knows it's a mistake unless you tell them. But I KNOW you know that, Dave.
Also, many ancient peoples deliberately included "flaws" in things they made, sort of admitting imperfection, if you will.
I think you just wanted to spread out the load with a wider base...
And, no, Chick. Escutcheon plates draw blood, and the Inquisiton didn't allow blood, as such. Too gruesome, I guess.