The plaque is ornamented with the emblem of the Nawab of Oudh, Wajid Ali Shah (r. 1847-1856). Elements include a crown sheltered by an umbrella, upon which perches a bird looking down and at the forefront of the podium, lies a buckler, as well as two swords. The most striking motifs are what appears to be two mermaids holding fans. The mermaid motif is thought to be adaptations of the twin fish motif, arranged with heads facing each other, which were used in all of Lucknow’s imperial crafts.
