3

This is my first question on this site, so if it is off-topic I apologize.

Is there a word for the practice/art of creating amulets, talismans, magical tokens, or the like? For example, 'wizardry' is practicing magic as a wizard, and 'wandistry' is the use of magical wands, so is there a word in a similar vein such as 'talismanistry'?

I would want to use it like this: "The two major branches of magic are wandistry and [insert word]."

I think 'wandistry' is a noun (and thus this word would also be a noun) because it is like 'medicine' or 'dentistry': it is an occupation/art. If such a word doesn't exist (I'm pretty sure 'wandistry' doesn't exist either) any convincing made-up word is perfectly sufficient.

Some dictionary searches I've tried:
OneLook with keywords "make amulet"
OneLook with keywords "make talisman"

Additionally, normal Google and Ecosia (which has results provided by Bing) searches turn up nothing but instruction sets for rituals to actually make magic amulets, which I'm not interested in.

Edit:
In my case I'm specifically referring to the process of creating amulets, as in magical gemstones. The use of talismans/magical tokens as examples was not well thought out by me.

|improve this question
  • 1
    If you're happy inventing "wandistry", what's wrong with "talismanistry" or "amuletry"? – KillingTime Jul 29 at 5:09
  • 1
    @KillingTime I tried 'talismanistry', but it just didn't seem to flow very well, and felt very awkward to read and say. However, I didn't think of 'amuletry', and it sounds pretty good, so I suggest you put it as an answer. I'll give it a day or two to see if anyone comes up with anything else/better, but if not, I'll accept that one. – Nik3141 Jul 29 at 5:14
  • 1
    Do they make the amulet / talisman magically as a magic item (ie in one go), or is it created first by a jeweller/gemsmith and then enchanted/imbued with the magic property later? – Smock Jul 29 at 15:46
  • 1
    @Nik3141 Ah ok, that makes sense - they're not just taking everyday objects and enchanting then. They are actually creating something as the imbue it with magic (and so it could potentially lose it's magic by breaking?) – Smock Jul 29 at 15:54
  • 1
    Amuletrics. Talismanry. – Carly Jul 29 at 16:37
4

I'm not an expert on fields of magic but in a couple of cases where such a word would likely be used, even if uncommon, the authors chose "crafting". It was obvious from context and some uses that they meant crafting magical items. Even so this is evidence of the lack of such a word as much as it's a suggestion.

|improve this answer
  • 1
    Ok. There being no official word, I think I'll go with 'amuletry'. – Nik3141 Jul 29 at 17:40
  • 3
    If you're going with "amuletry", it probably better to give that as an answer and accept that as the answer. – L. Scott Johnson Jul 29 at 18:48
2

Try making Phylactery into what you need, like Phylacterism

(nb: Although D&D has a very narrow usage of Phylactery, it can mean any amulet or charm).

|improve this answer
  • This would work great except it doesn't sound a ton like it is related to making amulets at first, and sounds like it has something to do with plants. Definitely a good word, but I'm looking for a word which has a pretty obvious link to amulets (to the non D&D initiated), so I might use 'amuletry' instead. – Nik3141 Jul 29 at 15:47
  • Right. As per the original question, this is for amulets, talismans, and charms, not just amulets. – L. Scott Johnson Jul 29 at 18:50
2

I would suggest:

Artificer

Meaning someone who specialises in creating artifacts such as magical trinkets

D&D Reference

|improve this answer
  • This is a strange coincidence because I actually needed three words, 'wandistry', 'amuletry', and something for putting magical power into objects. I'll probably use 'artificery' for the third one. – Nik3141 Jul 29 at 15:45
  • You have posted a non-word. You forgot the r. – Lambie Jul 29 at 18:57
  • Thanks @Lambie, not sure how I missed that! – Smock Jul 30 at 8:10
1

I am a practicing magician (not some Penn and Teller style performer but someone with actual magical powers) so I can tell you what I at least (and others in the industry) call these different things.

A talisman or amulet or other objet d'art needs to have spells put on them during manufacture. Sometimes afterwards is fine but it works best if the magic is done during manufacture. This imbues the object with magical characteristics that stay with the object. Most talismans or amulets are made by

jewelers

and the process is called

jewel making.

The magic part of it is purely secondary.

If the artwork is more substantial than a piece of jewelry (too bulky to be worn on a person), then they are made by:

artists, artisans, or sculptors.

If the process of manufacture is purely magical, say, in creating an object out of thin air, then working alone I call myself a:

magician.

No self-respecting adept uses the children's grandiose terms of 'wizard' or 'witch'. All that Harry Potter stuff is fiction, literally.

For those who do 'wandmaking', called wandmakers, wands aren't considered talismans at all. In the ontology of artifacts, yes, strictly speaking, wands -are- talismans, but nobody using a wand thinks like that. It's like thinking a hamburger is a sandwich, it may strictly follow the rules but you just don't think that way.

|improve this answer
  • You put spells on products? How insane is that? – Lambie Jul 29 at 18:53
  • @Lambie Look man, I don't make the rules, that's just how it works. – Mitch Jul 29 at 19:05
  • amulets are not manufactured. They are made. Let's get the English right at least, shall we? – Lambie Jul 29 at 19:17

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.