[CdM] I would say no. As for your other unquestion, well, just look on it as getting an extra answer for free.

[Raak] Yes.

Summary (is it just me, or are we having these more often?)

It is: man-made (as in constructed by humans); possibly, but not typically, Austrian; multi-coloured; possibly wooden; possibly, but not normally, a work of art; used at home, most likely in the living-room; elongated; smaller than a bread-bin; normally found below the eye-line of the average-height person.

It is (or was) not: Austrian wine; a set of children's building blocks; being used, eaten or viewed by Darren at 09.38 BST on Friday; a book; readable; a chopping-board; furniture; a cupboard; generally found in the kitchen or the bedroom; something you can curl up on or in (if larger than a cat); containing glass or metal; a coaster; a bookshelf; really an implement; something that most players of this game would have in their houses.

Who was it who said 'knowledge is power'?

Is it culturally specific?

[Rosie] Almost anything could be!
[Irouléguy] Hmmm... its name would suggest so.

[Irouléguy] So as not to be too misleading, though, it's not something I'd say is culturally specific.

[Raak] No.

[Rosie] No.

[Raak] No.

[Irouléguy] As I implied above, no. There doesn't have to be any wood involved, although there sometimes is.
[Raak] No.

[Rosie] Not necessarily.
[all] No.

[Irouléguy] The funny thing is, it can be, but that's such an incredibly misleading answer!
[Raak] No.

Does anyone want a clue?

(Darren) Yes please. Most of the answers seem to be a Pythonesque "could be". I detect widespread bafflement, of which I'm part. :-)

"Could be" is partly because I'm a vague person, and partly because I don't like leading people up too many dark alleys. Anyway, a clue: it's a kind of puzzle.

[irach] No and no.
[RedSnapper] No.

Does this have any physical manifestation at all? Or is it purely conceptual?

(Ansering my own questions) we're looking for the physical object. Is it essential to the game or puzzle? That is, can one play without the thing?

[Effable] No, one cannot do this puzzle without the thing.
[Gusset Login] No.