Coming in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, the most familiar style of trivet is a standard mat, like a crocheted or knitted trivet that lies flat—easy to stash in a drawer and effortless to grab and lay out on the counter when needed.
Novelty trivets bear distinct shapes that give them a bit of personality, such as resembling a state on a map, the outline of an animal, the palm of a hand, or another distinct form that makes these kitchen items stand out.
Some trivets are formed into wildly imaginative configurations that make them as much a work of art as they are a useful kitchen staple. From elaborately painted stoneware pieces to intricately filagreed cast iron trivets, it's tempting to hang these beauties as a wall decoration rather than use them for their intended purpose.