Changes: Hand of Glory

Revision as of 14:22, 27 January 2016

"Insert a candle and it gives light only to the holder! Best friend of thieves and plunderers!"

— Borgin explaining the artefact's power to Draco Malfoy^[src]

The Hand of Glory is a dark artefact, a shrivelled hand which gives light only to the holder.

Etymology and history

The Hand of Glory is a magical instrument which appears often in mystic lore. In general, it is described as a severed and preserved human hand, (maybe made of wax) with a candle implanted on it. The various powers ascribed to a Hand Of Glory include the ability to immobilise anyone who looks at it, or unlock any door it comes across. It was traditionally used by thieves, since it allowed them to see in otherwise total darkness, open locked doors, and immobilise guards. In some dark magical ceremonies, Hands of Glory were reputed to have been used as the source of illumination.

Harry-potter2-movie-screencaps — A hand on display at Borgin and burkes

Various grisly myths surround the making of a Hand of Glory (which fits well with the reputation of Borgin and Burkes). The hand is said to be that of an executed criminal (usually by hanging);

most often the criminal himself is a murderer or other serious felon. Other myths say that a hanged man's blood is necessary to the recipe, or that his body fat is used to make the candle.

The myth is probably derived from the (European) Mandrake plant (Mandragora officinarum). Etymologically, the name "Mandragora" closely resembles the French phrase "Main de la Gloire," ("Hand of Glory") The actual Mandrake plant produces a number of alkaloid toxins, including scopolamine and mandragorine, and has been used since ancient times as an anesthetic. Chewing the root can cause stupor.

A Hand of Glory appears prominently in the climax of John Bellairs's young adult novel The House With A Clock In Its Walls, as well as the Hellboy story "Box Full of Evil". They are also used in Charles Stross's Laundry Files series of paranormal spy thrillers.

Known owners

During the summer before his second year, Draco Malfoy visited Borgin and Burkes with his father. There, he saw the Hand of Glory and asked if he could buy it, with Borgin explaining its powers and connecting its usage to thieves and plunderers, which led Draco's father, Lucius, to scorn the idea of his son needing such a thing.

Regardless, Draco purchased it sometime before his sixth year, and made use of it during his plot to assassinate Albus Dumbledore. He used it to escape from the Room of Requirement after using Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder to make it impossible for anyone to see him leave the room.

Behind the scenes

The hand appears in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, old and shrunken and lying on a cushion in Borgin and Burke's. When Harry touches it, it grabs his hand viciously until he manages to pry it off again.
In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 when the hand grabs Harry's, it takes Harry's hand off of his arm and spits it out in front of Rubeus Hagrid.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 |owners=*[[Borgin and Burkes]]
 *[[Draco Malfoy]]
-|first=[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]
-|latest=
-|last=
 }}
+{{Quote|Insert a [[candle]] and it gives light only to the holder! Best friend of thieves and plunderers!|[[Borgin]] explaining the artefact's power to Draco Malfoy|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
-The '''Hand of Glory''' is a hand which gives light only to the beholder.
+The '''Hand of Glory''' is a [[Dark Arts|dark]] artefact, a shrivelled hand which gives light only to the holder.
+==Etymology and history==
-==Known Owners==
+The Hand of Glory is a magical instrument which appears often in mystic lore. In general, it is described as a severed and preserved human hand, (maybe made of wax) with a candle implanted on it. The various powers ascribed to a Hand Of Glory include the ability to immobilise anyone who looks at it, or unlock any door it comes across. It was traditionally used by thieves, since it allowed them to see in otherwise total darkness, open locked doors, and immobilise guards. In some [[Dark Arts|dark magical]] ceremonies, Hands of Glory were reputed to have been used as the source of illumination.
-It was purchased by [[Draco Malfoy]] in [[Borgin and Burkes]]. He used it to escape from the [[Room of Requirement]] after using [[Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder]] to make it impossible for anyone to see him leave the room.
+[[File:Harry-potter2-movie-screencaps.com-1938.jpg|thumb|250px|A hand on display at Borgin and burkes|left]]
-==Etymology and History==
-The Hand of Glory is a magical instrument which appears often in mystic lore.  In general, it is described as a severed and preserved human hand, with a candle inplanted on it.  The various powers ascribed to a Hand Of Glory include the ability to immobilize anyone who looks at it, or unlock any door it comes across.  It was traditionally used by thieves, since it allowed them to see in otherwise total darkness, open locked doors, and immobilize guards.  In some [[Dark Arts|dark magical]] ceremonies, Hands of Glory were reputed to have been used as the source of illumination.
-Various grisly myths surround the making of a Hand of Glory (which fits well with the reputation of Borgin & Burke's).  The hand is said to be that of an executed criminal (usually by hanging); most often the criminal himself is a murderer or other serious felon.  Other myths say that a hanged man's blood is necessary to the recipe, or that his body fat is used to make the candle.
+Various grisly myths surround the making of a Hand of Glory (which fits well with the reputation of Borgin and Burkes). The hand is said to be that of an executed criminal (usually by hanging);
+most often the criminal himself is a murderer or other serious felon. Other myths say that a hanged man's blood is necessary to the recipe, or that his body fat is used to make the candle.
-The myth is probably derived from the ([[Europe]]an) [[Mandrake]] plant (''Mandragora officinarum'').  Etymologically, the name "Mandragora" closely resembles the French phrase "''Main de la Gloire''," ("Hand of Glory") The actual Mandrake plant produces a number of alkaloid toxins, including scopolamine and mandragorine, and has been used since ancient times as an anesthetic.  Chewing the root can cause stupor.
+The myth is probably derived from the ([[Europe]]an) [[Mandrake]] plant (''Mandragora officinarum''). Etymologically, the name "Mandragora" closely resembles the French phrase "''Main de la Gloire''," ("Hand of Glory") The actual Mandrake plant produces a number of alkaloid toxins, including scopolamine and mandragorine, and has been used since ancient times as an anesthetic. Chewing the root can cause stupor.
-A Hand of Glory appears prominently in the climax of [[Wikipedia:John Bellairs|John Bellairs]]'s young adult novel ''The House With A Clock In Its Walls''.
+A Hand of Glory appears prominently in the climax of {{Wplink|John Bellairs}}'s young adult novel ''The House With A Clock In Its Walls'', as well as the {{Wplink|Hellboy}} story "Box Full of Evil". They are also used in {{Wplink|Charles Stross}}'s ''Laundry Files'' series of paranormal spy thrillers.
+== Known owners ==
+During the summer before his second year, [[Draco Malfoy]] visited [[Borgin and Burkes]] with [[Lucius Malfoy|his father]]. There, he saw the Hand of Glory and asked if he could buy it, with Borgin explaining its powers and connecting its usage to thieves and plunderers, which led Draco's father, Lucius, to scorn the idea of his son needing such a thing.
+Regardless, Draco purchased it sometime before his sixth year, and made use of it during his plot to assassinate Albus Dumbledore. He used it to escape from the [[Room of Requirement]] after using [[Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder]] to make it impossible for anyone to see him leave the room.
 ==Behind the scenes==
 *The hand appears in the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', old and shrunken and lying on a cushion in Borgin and Burke's. When [[Harry Potter|Harry]] touches it, it grabs his hand viciously until he manages to pry it off again.
+*In [[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]] when the hand grabs [[Harry Potter|Harry]]'s, it takes Harry's hand off of his arm and spits it out in front of [[Rubeus Hagrid]].
 ==Appearances==
@@ Line 34: / Line 39: @@
 *''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''
 *''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
+*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World]]''
+*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
-{{Object-stub}}
+*''[[Pottermore]]''
+*''[[LEGO Harry Potter|Harry Potter LEGO Sets]]''
+*[[The Wizarding World of Harry Potter|''The Wizarding World of Harry Potter'']]
 [[fi:Kunnian käsi]]
+[[fr:Main de la Gloire]]
+[[ru:Рука славы]]
+[[pt-br:Mão da Glória]]
 [[Category:Objects]]
+[[Category:Draco Malfoy's possessions]]
+[[Category:Dark Magic Artefacts]]
+[[Category:Battle of the Astronomy Tower]]
+[[Category:Light-based magic]]
+[[Category:Concealment]]