beautiful and functional! I have given 2 of these as gifts and I want one myself now.

This is beautiful - artwork that is functional. When it's collapsed, it's profile is very small, so it doesn't take a lot of room and then it expands to be larger when needed for serving or to protect surface. It looks like a piece of art, the connectors are right where the fish eyes would be :) so it is well thought out, well-made and beautiful on the table when in use or just there. We leave out all the time.

cleverly designed and decorative trivet

It's a beautiful piece and functionally perfect. The only flaw is the stainless steel finish shows every scratch. They should consider a brushed stainless finish.