Minecraft wiki entry for Crafting_Table, associated text: The application icon for Java Edition is a crafting table, since 1.6.1. Version 1.6.2 had a strange icon like RubyDung versions. Before that, the icon was the Java icon. After 1.6.2, the icon is changed again. In 2013, the icon was a grass block.
The crafting table is used as a window icon for snapshots, instead of a grass block for releases.
The original inventory screen before January 29, 2010 was the crafting table interface, meaning there was no way of putting on armor yet, and the player could not be seen.
The sides of the table feature a hammer, saw, and pliers, which are not available in the game.