Aulë the Smith is a Vala, Smith of the gods and concerned with rock and metal. He constructed Angainor, the chain of Melkor, and the vessels of the Sun and Moon. His name means Invention.
Aulë created his own race of beings, the Dwarves. Since Ilúvatar had decided that the Elves were to be the first-born race, he made the Dwarves to sleep until the Elves appeared on Arda. When the Elves came to Valinor, the Noldor became the students of Aulë. Fëanor was his greatest pupil, and from him learned the craft to make the Silmarils.