Trivet

Trivet, 19th century replica

French trivet, 19th century replica

Decorative brass trivets by the industrial designer Maurice Ascalon (1913–2003), manufactured by the Pal-Bell Company circa 1940s.

A trivet /ˈtrɪvɨt/ is an object placed between a serving dish or bowl, and a dining table, usually to protect the table from heat or water damage.

Trivet also refers to a tripod used to elevate pots from the coals of an open fire (the word trivet itself ultimately comes from Latin tripes meaning "tripod"). Metal trivets are often tripod-like structures with three legs to support the trivet horizontally in order to hold the dish or pot above the table surface. These are often included with modern non-electric pressure cookers. A trivet may often contain a receptacle for a candle that can be lit to keep food warm.

A three-legged design is optimal because it eliminates wobbling on uneven surfaces.

Modern trivets are made from metal, wood, ceramic, fabric, silicone or cork.

Look up trivet in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.