Wooden Birthday Candle

Every Tiny Fox Hole toy is hand-carved and hand-finished in a small family workshop from sustainably sourced solid wood, including linden, ash, beech, and birch. The natural grain is left to show, so each piece has its own character and no two are exactly alike. Where a piece carries a decorative motif, it is burned into the wood by hand, a technique called pyrography, never painted or printed.

Finishes are non-toxic and child-safe: water-based varnishes, pure linseed oil, and beeswax. Colorful pieces are treated with Biofa natural wax. All paints, color treatments, and sealants are certified to the European toy safety standard EN 71-3, which limits the migration of heavy metals if a toy is mouthed, chewed, or swallowed.

The designs draw on Montessori and Waldorf principles: simple, open-ended shapes that leave room for a child's imagination rather than dictating play.

Stand a single candle in the center of the ring to mark the day, or set one in each hole around it. Children can arrange them safely on their own, and because nothing burns, the candles store away with the ring and come back out every birthday. Pair them with the wooden numbers to show the child's age.

Wipe clean with a dry cloth, or one that is barely damp. Never soak or submerge it in water, and do not leave it wet. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heat to protect the wood and the linseed oil finish. If the surface feels dry over time, sand lightly with fine sandpaper and rub in a little pure linseed oil (raw, not boiled) or beeswax to bring the finish back. Store indoors somewhere dry. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years, and young children should be supervised during play.