Application of smalt in building glazed tiles from Yuanmingyuan Park, Beijing’ in Qing dynasty

Research on blue-glazed tiles from Yuanmingyuan Park (Summer Palace) reveals the use of smalt, a European-derived cobalt material, alongside Chinese cobalt ore during the Qing Dynasty. Analysis of nine lead-glazed pottery samples identified high levels of potassium (K), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), barium (Ba), bismuth (Bi), and uranium (U), characteristic of imported smalt, while manganese (Mn) indicated the inclusion of local Chinese cobalt ore. The findings suggest a hybrid approach to ceramic production, blending foreign and domestic materials, which persisted into Qing-era craftsmanship.

Ping, M., Jin, H., Zhang, Z., Zhang, L., Sun, M., Cao, M., & Cui, J. (2025). Application of smalt in building glazed tiles from Yuanmingyuan Park, Beijing’ in Qing dynasty. Npj Heritage Science, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01803-x