Elfenward’s Wondrous Wands

Germany's finest Wand Maker since 1364. Hidden in plain sight in the non-magical world as a watchmaker in Nuremberg's Weißburggasse.

As part of a wider prop design research project in 2017 on what a German Wizarding World would look like, I’ve designed a handful of props and visual identities for the most iconic institutions of the German Wizarding World and since no witch or wizard would be complete without a wand, I tried to give the German Wandmaker a visual identity. The design and name are based on extensive research of German mythology and city archives to reference designs from the end of the 19th century.

The name Elfenward derives from the words elf, the more common form of elb - a natural spirit - and the old germanic word "ward" meaning protector. Since wand woods are protected by tree spirits, the name means "he who treats the spirits well".

The design is inspired by signage of the victorian era, since the wandmaker has been around for quite a while, the identity shouldn't look too new and the stylistic elements of the period seemed most fitting with a natural "root and plant" based vibe. The box is made with green craft paper and special cotton paper used in the restoration of old books. It's aged and finished with gilded labels to achieve its weathered look. Inside it is cushioned and lined with emerald green velvet and organza ribbons.

The final touch is the addition of a custom-made invoice and the technical drawing of my wand, which was custom designed for my application to MinaLima, housing a USB stick and thereby acting as my magical portfolio. I also created an ad for the newspaper the Alchemist. The result is a mesmerizing box which has grown very dear to me over the years and keeps on catching the attention of visitors to my studio.