If you’ve visited the Harry Potter Studio Tours in London, England, you’ll have noticed that the design for each character’s wand is unique in it’s own way. This isn’t coincidental – each wand was designed by the prop makers in the Harry Potter movies to reflect aspects of it’s character’s personality and journey. Here we’re going to take a look at nine wands used by some of the major characters in the Harry Potter films.
We sell them here on Magic Alley, which can you can view by clicking here. Our wands are officially licensed and identical to those sold at the Studio Tour, but come in a special Ollivander wand box presentation!
Harry Potter’s Wand
Harry’s wand, compared to the others here, is one of the most ordinary. When he receives it from Ollivander’s wand shop in Diagon Alley before his first year at Hogwarts, he has no real magical powers he can control, or any true understanding of the wizarding world. This is reflected in the wand design, which famously shares a core with Lord Voldermort’s wand, using a tail feather from Albus Dumbledore’s phoenix Fawkes.
Albus Dumbledore’s Wand
Buy Albus Dumbledore’s wand here.
More famously known as the Elder Wand, and descended from the Peverell brothers, this wand is truly the story of legend. It’s core contains the tail hair of a Threstral, a magical creature that can only be seen by those who have experienced death, a hint towards the belief that to own all three Deathly Hallows is to become the master of death. Made hundreds of years ago, ancient markings in a different language appear near it’s handle, while the bumps along the wand are made to look like elderberries, a hint towards the elder tree that provided the wood for the elder wand.
Sirius Black’s Wand
Sirius Black’s life was largely shaped by the 12 years he spent in Azkaban prison, before becoming the first person to ever successfully escape. This influenced the design of his wand, which is coloured black, to reflect the darkness and depressive state of his time while in there. The handle of the wand is shaped with four sides, to mimic the four walls of his prison cell, and has markings carved into the handle that would have existed on the wall of his cell from previous prisoners who had eventually turned insane. His wand becomes round towards the end, and shows more expressive markings, symbolising his time after Azkaban that was filled with more excitement and hope.
Hermione Granger’s Wand
Buy Hermione Granger’s wand here.
One of the only wands that doesn’t have an separate handle to hold it, Hermione’s is also one of our best selling wands and is really beautifully designed. As well as Harry and Ron, J.K Rowling used a Celtic calendar to determine the wood of Hermione’s wand, with vine relating to her birthdate in September. In that calendar, vine represents an extreme of emotions, both happiness and wrath. Not only is Hermione’s wand made of vine in the books and films, but here it also features the design of a vine running down it.
Ron Weasley’s Wand
This wasn’t Ron’s first wand, which he inherited from his brother Charlie before breaking it when flying into the Whomping Willow with Harry at the start of his second year. This was his replacement, bought at the end of that school year from Ollivander in Diagon Alley, which he found much easier to use. It’s design is similar to Harry’s, but made from willow instead of holly. Ron’s character is shaped by his families financial struggles and a lack of self confidence that stems from that, and this wand reflects that with a very basic, uneven and simplistic design.
Draco Malfoy’s Wand
Draco’s wand is made from Hawthorn, which is said to be most compatible with wizards going through turmoil – something Draco experienced in the later books and films when tasked with killing Albus Dumbledore. Ollivander notes that it is pliant, flexible and capable of bending without breaking. To be pliant is to be capable of either good or evil, something that relates to Draco’s character, and his struggles to protect himself and his family from Lord Voldemort in the face of having to do things he was deeply uncomfortable with.
Severus Snape’s Wand
Buy Severus Snape’s wand here.
Unlike the other wands here, it’s hard to find much information about Severus’s wand. The only reference to it in the Harry Potter books is that it is slim and spare, with no embellishments. Like a lot of wands held by Death Eaters, it’s a dark black colour to symbolise the magic he engaged in, and his appearance. Aside from the handle, the wand has no pattern or other colours, and fails to express any character from someone who was not a warm, expressive or joyful person.
Lord Voldermort’s Wand
Buy Lord Voldermort’s wand here.
The most distinctive of all the wands we’ve seen so far, Lord Voldermort’s wand notably shared a core with Harry’s from Fawkes the phoenix, but it’s exterior is completely different. It’s handle is made from a bone, while the wand itself is yew, and it’s thought that Tom Riddle added that after becoming Lord Voldemort, while seeking to change his appearance to distance himself from his Riddle name and his half blood heritage. Interestingly, the hook shape for it’s handle was requested by Ralph Fiennes, who played the part of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films.
Newt Scamander’s Wand
Buy Newt Scamander’s wand here.
Newt’s wand was picked by Eddie Redmayne, who portrays him in the Fantastic Beasts films. His wand was designed to reflect Newt’s love of magical creatures, animals, and nature. The handle is made using belemnite, the fossilised inner skeleton of an ancient squid. The wand itself is produced with timber, and it made to look like it has been whittled, with a simplistic design made with organic ingredients.
If you’re looking to visit London and see the Studio Tour, we recommend visiting the London Hut website for help and advice around planning your time there!