A recent comment exchange (here) got me thinking: are there any examples of non-wooden wand in canon? I always assumed it was the core of the wand itself that was being used in the channeling of magic, but I recall Ollivander mentioning something about the wood of the wand playing a part in how difficult a wand was to make.
Are there any examples of wands made of different materials than wood or, if not, does the wood itself play any part in the strength of the wand?
I'll say yes, they must be made of wood. Because not even all trees can produce wood that can make wands.
Only a minority of trees can produce wand quality wood (just as a minority of humans can produce magic). It takes years of experience to tell which ones have the gift, although the job is made easier if Bowtruckles are found nesting in the leaves, as they never inhabit mundane trees. The following notes on various wand woods should be regarded very much as a starting point, for this is the study of a lifetime, and I continue to learn with every wand I make and match. pottermore article on wand woods
The article gives a breakdown of all the materials used to make wands and their various quirks and there is no mention of any non wooden material.
Furthermore, the Pottermore article on wands states
Made from various kinds of wood, containing a core from substances such as dragon heartstring, unicorn hair or phoenix feather pottermore article on wands
Harry Potter Wikia has a list named wands. And they're all wooden.
Voldemort's wand (according to the above article) has a bone handle in the film.
From what we know about wands they include a case of wood, which contains a magical object at its core. The wood itself seems to be slightly magical, as wand wood bearing trees attract magical creatures. but its the combination between the wood and core that makes the wand.
I would speculate that certain other organic items could work for a wand casing, for example bones, filled with a magical core could possibly work. especially bones from a magical creature, like Dragon bones. However AFAIK in cannon we never have a non-wood example of a wand.
This concept art picture from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 'Conceptual Artist' Dermot Power shows a wand made of carved ivory (with a brass handle).
This wand (along with many of the other art pieces by Power) doesn't appear to have made it beyond the concept stage.
If you look at the Ilvermorny founder family, they had some wands made with bone. Just something to look up as I just woke up but I think deer bone and horned serpent were used as wands.
