Global pop-toy giant Pop Mart has unveiled a new edition of its Mega Royal Molly figure featuring Zibo glass 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 made from Zibo colored glass using the Boshan glassmaking technique, a national intangible cultural heritage project from Shandong province, on Oct 23.

Unlike typical brand collaborations that merely print traditional patterns onto merchandise, the glass is the product itself. Each figure is fired at 1,400 C using the Boshan glassmaking 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 connects Zibo glass art with Pop Mart's global distribution network. The company's products are sold in more than 90 countries and regions. It marks the first time Zibo glass art has entered the international designer toy market in the form of a limited-edition collectible figure.