Gerbold Ollivander

Gerbold Octavius Ollivander was a wandmaker who came from a long line of wizards who began selling wands in London in 382 B.C. He was the father of Gervaise Ollivander, and, through him, the paternal grandfather of Garrick Ollivander.

During the 19th century, when silver lime was in fashion, the wandmaker Arturo Cephalopos claimed that the wood's reputed connection with powers of divination was "a falsehood circulated by merchants like Gerbold Ollivander, who have overstocked their workshops with silver lime and hope to shift their surplus." According to Gerbold's grandson Garrick, however, Cephalos was "an ignoramus" who not suprisingly went out of business.

He believed that fir produced "the survivor's wand," as he had sold wands of this wood to three different wizards, each of whom found himself in mortal danger and came out unharmed. He was also fond of saying, "If you seek integrity, search first among the poplars," which his grandson Garrick found correct based on his own experience with poplar wands and their owners.

Appearances

 * Pottermore