Your recipient may want to use it as a table topper, so the separate clips sound like a great idea to me. Just include them with it and she can choose how to display it!

A sleeve is the only method of unmounted hanging that does not eventually cause some sort of damage or distortion to the piece, no matter how large or small it may be. If you don't like Hollice's suggestion, which I completely agree with, why not simply ask the recipient what their preference is and adjust the hanging mechanism for that?