Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Wandmaker====== =====Introduction===== A **wandmaker** is a [[witch]] or [[wizard]] who studies the complex branch of [[magic]] known as [[wandlore]] and practices the craft of making [[wands]]. This is a rare and highly specialized profession that requires immense skill, knowledge, and magical ability. The craft involves pairing specific [[wand wood|wand woods]] with powerful [[wand core|magical cores]] to create a unique magical instrument that will form a bond with its owner. The most renowned wandmakers in the series are [[Garrick Ollivander]] of [[Great Britain]] and his European competitor, [[Mykew Gregorovitch]]. =====Biography===== The history of wandmaking is ancient, with [[Ollivander]] noting that his family began the craft in [[Great Britain]] in 382 B.C., having arrived with the Romans. The core principle of the craft, at least as espoused by [[Ollivander]], is that "the [[wand]] chooses the [[wizard]]". This philosophy suggests that [[wands]] possess a degree of sentience and that a successful pairing between a [[wand]] and its owner is a matter of affinity, not simply of selection. The craft is described as a "mysterious and complex branch of [[magic]]". It demands a deep understanding of the properties of countless magical substances and woods, and how they interact with each other and with the personality of a potential owner. A wandmaker's reputation is built on the quality of their instruments and their ability to match them to customers. While [[Ollivander]] is considered the finest in [[Britain]], other wandmakers like [[Gregorovitch]] were also highly regarded, though their philosophies and techniques sometimes differed. [[Gregorovitch]], for example, was more openly interested in researching and duplicating the properties of the legendary [[Elder Wand]]. =====Physical Appearance and Personality===== While there is no single archetype, the two prominent wandmakers in the novels share certain traits. * **[[Garrick Ollivander]]** is an elderly [[wizard]] with a stooped posture and unsettling, pale silvery eyes. He possesses an unnervingly powerful memory, able to recall every single [[wand]] he has ever sold. His personality is intense, focused, and deeply passionate, treating [[wandlore]] with a near-religious reverence. * **[[Mykew Gregorovitch]]** is also an old [[wizard]], with thick white hair and a bushy beard. He appears more commercially-minded and somewhat boastful, proudly claiming [[Viktor Krum]] as a client. However, he shows profound fear when confronted by [[Lord Voldemort]]. From these examples, it can be inferred that wandmakers are typically highly intelligent, possibly eccentric individuals who dedicate their lives to their singular, intricate craft. =====Magical Abilities and Skills===== A wandmaker's skills extend far beyond simple carpentry. Their primary abilities include: * **Expertise in [[Wandlore]]:** This is their defining skill. It encompasses a vast knowledge of the magical properties of [[wand wood|woods]], [[wand core|cores]], [[wand]] lengths, and flexibilities, and how these factors correspond to different types of [[magic]] and personality traits. * **Advanced [[Charms]] and [[Transfiguration]]:** The ability to imbue inert materials with potent and lasting [[magic]] is a sign of exceptional magical talent. The creation of a [[wand]] is a sophisticated act of enchantment. * **Non-verbal [[Magic]]:** [[Ollivander]] demonstrates the ability to use [[magic]] without an incantation, such as when he directs his magical tape measure to take [[Harry Potter]]'s measurements. * **Exceptional Memory:** [[Ollivander]]'s eidetic memory for his own creations is a key asset in his business and a testament to his deep connection to his craft. =====Possessions===== A wandmaker's most important possessions are the tools and raw materials of their trade. * **Tools:** A magical tape measure is one known tool used by [[Ollivander]] to aid in the fitting process. Other, more specialized tools for carving wood and inserting cores are implied but not described. * **Wand Cores:** Wandmakers use a variety of magical substances for [[wand]] cores. [[Ollivander]] primarily uses what he calls the "Supreme Cores": * [[Unicorn hair]] * [[Dragon heartstring]] * [[Phoenix feather]] * Other known cores include [[Veela hair]] (which [[Ollivander]] considers temperamental) and [[Thestral]] tail hair (the core of the [[Elder Wand]]). * **Wand Woods:** A wide variety of magical woods are used, each with its own distinct properties. These include holly, yew, vine, mahogany, willow, oak, and many others. =====Relationships===== Wandmakers hold a unique position in [[wizarding society]], forming relationships with nearly every [[witch]] and [[wizard]] who purchases a [[wand]]. * **[[Garrick Ollivander]]:** As the primary wandmaker for [[Britain]], he has a professional relationship with most British wizards, including [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Neville Longbottom]]. He also sold the [[wands]] that chose [[James Potter]], [[Lily Potter]], and [[Tom Riddle]]. His relationship with [[Lord Voldemort]] was antagonistic; he was kidnapped and tortured for information regarding the twin cores and the [[Elder Wand]]. * **[[Mykew Gregorovitch]]:** A competitor of [[Ollivander]], he was the maker of [[Viktor Krum]]'s [[wand]]. His history is tragically tied to the [[Elder Wand]]; he once possessed it and boasted of this fact, which led both [[Gellert Grindelwald]] and later [[Lord Voldemort]] to him. [[Voldemort]] ultimately murdered him during his quest for the [[wand]]. * **Other Wandmakers:** Other wandmakers exist globally, though they are not central to the main story. This includes the ancestors of [[Garrick Ollivander]] and foreign wandmakers from America and Europe. (Pottermore) =====Etymology===== The term "wandmaker" is a straightforward English compound word, combining "[[wand]]" and "maker," literally meaning "one who makes wands." =====Behind the Scenes===== * J.K. Rowling has vastly expanded the topic of [[wandlore]] on the Pottermore and Wizarding World websites, creating extensive writings on the properties of various [[wand wood|wand woods]] and [[wand core|cores]] not mentioned in the original seven novels. * These writings introduce several international wandmakers, including Isolt Sayre (an [[Ilvermorny]] founder), Violetta Beauvais, Thiago Quintana, and Johannes Jonker in America. (Pottermore) * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//, [[Ollivander]]'s shop is depicted as ancient, narrow, and crammed from floor to ceiling with thousands of [[wand]] boxes, a visual that powerfully captures the scale of his life's work. John Hurt's portrayal of [[Ollivander]] emphasized the character's mysterious and ethereal qualities.
