A house of tradition
The company was founded in 1946 by Francis Tirot, in Romagné, Brittany — where we are still based, 80 years on.
He worked in the world of wood, and the arrival of the very first paid holidays inspired him to create a wooden toy for children…
…From this idea was born a truly unique creation: a navigable wooden toy boat..
For four generations, we have been sharing our craft through our registered designs.
True children's toys, our products meet French and European safety standards. All our boats are handcrafted and hand-painted.
Since 2021, Augustin Hubert, supported and mentored by Nicolas Tirot, has been at the helm of this Breton company. He is the only French manufacturer of wooden toy boats.
More than 15,000 boats leave our workshop every year, sold throughout France and abroad in over 250 toy and wooden toy shops, beachside boutiques, museums…reseller's listing).
In 2012, Tirot was awarded the 'EPV' label — French Living Heritage Company (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant). This is a state recognition award created to distinguish French companies with outstanding artisan and industrial expertise.
TIROT toy boats also received the Prix à la Création en Bretagne (Brittany Creation Award) in 2012.
Since 1946
End-to-end controlled production
In order to produce quality products and maintain full control over the manufacturing process, we select our timber right from the source. It is entirely French wood, chosen directly as standing trees in the forests close to our workshop.
After this operation, to complete the machining stage, we cut a board to the desired dimensions to obtain a blank, and then refine the details using a variety of machines.
From there, we can proceed to the finishing touches: painting and rigging.
TIROT boats meet the European safety standards EN 71 1.2.3, certifying their compliance.
Our vision
Our world is overrun with objects whose lifespan is (very) limited, driven by fleeting trends and unsustainable production methods. We believe in doing things differently — crafting objects that are both useful and built to last.
Our mission
Maison Tirot's mission is to contribute to the development of young children by offering them playful toys made in a sustainable way.
Our Values
- Thoughtful design
- Crafted with care
- For endless fun 🙂