This has been a really great thread, very interesting. I also have pondered this kind of thing. As someone said, "if it don't hold soup, call it art!" - an old discussion about the difference between art and craft. It seems to me that art is in things that fulfill the aim of the artist. If that aim is functional as well, then it is craft. But there is fundamentally little or no difference between the two. I recently completed a few small (less than 2"" or 5 cm dia) lids of black walnut for a potter friend. These are to be used for ceramic tea containers for a Korean tea ceremony, that he sells for $$$ - in the hundreds. Although the lids were very simple, and took little time to make, I charged a decent price for them. Point is, the pots are functional but beautiful and require great artistic effort to prepare,and he gets prices accordingly. We woodies should do the same!