Global pop-toy giant Pop Mart has unveiled a new edition of its Mega Royal Molly figure featuring Zibo glaze craftsmanship. [Photo/Haibao News]

A 3,000-year-old Chinese craft has found a new audience through an unexpected partnership. Pop Mart, the global pop-toy giant, released a limited-edition Mega Royal Molly figure crafted from Zibo colored glaze, a national intangible cultural heritage item from Shandong province, on Oct 23.

Unlike typical brand collaborations that merely print traditional patterns onto merchandise, the glaze is the product itself. Each figure is fired at 1,400 degrees Celsius using the Boshan colored-glaze technique. Two years of research were required to adapt the craft to MOLLY's intricate shape – sharp crown edges and slender fingers that leave no room for error in the kiln. The result is a series where every piece is adorned with unique flow patterns and light refractions, qualities highly sought after by collectors.

The collaboration gives Zibo colored glaze direct access to Pop Mart's global distribution network, reaching collectors in over 90 countries and regions. It marks the first time Zibo colored glaze has entered the international designer toy market in the form of a limited-edition collectible figure.