The morning coffee ritual and the art of fine jewellery exist on different planes of daily living, yet both share an intimate connection to personal routine, deliberate pacing, and elevated craftsmanship. In an unexpected meeting of disciplines, Singapore contemporary fine jewellery house State Property and homegrown coffee technology pioneer MORNING have joined hands for a bespoke charity initiative.
United by a common obsession with tactile objects and everyday rituals, the two brands have transformed three of MORNING’s flagship coffee machines into one-of-a-kind art pieces. Each machine is hand-inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl, translating whimsical motifs from State Property’s 10th-anniversary collection, The Story of Everything, into functional design objects.
Held from 14 to 25 October 2026, an online charity auction will offer collectors and design aficionados the opportunity to acquire these three bespoke machines. One hundred percent of the auction proceeds will be donated directly to Rainbow Centre, funding essential programmes and community services for persons with disabilities and their families in Singapore.
Born from a Bedtime Tale: A World Without Rules
The creative inspiration behind this collaboration began far away from drafting tables or jewellery workbenches. It took shape in the spontaneous bedtime storytelling of Mika, the then three-year-old son of State Property co-founders Afzal Imran and Lin Ruiyin.
In Mika’s boundless universe, a young boy embarks on an interstellar expedition alongside his trusted companion, Captain Lime. Together, they navigate roller-coaster railroad loops that defy gravity, glide past glowing extraterrestrial fungi, and voyage through deep cosmos in search of an elusive golden egg.
This imaginative narrative evolved into The Story of Everything, a milestone collection marking State Property’s tenth anniversary as an independent fine jewellery house. The collection celebrates the purity of childhood naïveté and the creative magic that unfolds when adults pause to listen to the smallest voices.
“The Story of Everything began with our son telling us about a world that existed entirely in his imagination,” explains Lin Ruiyin, Co-founder of State Property. “We loved the freedom in the way he told it; there were no rules about where the story could go or what belonged together. That sense of possibility became such an important part of the collection, and it has been wonderful to see it take on another life through our collaboration with MORNING.”
For Afzal Imran, co-founder and industrial designer by training, transmuting fine jewellery codes onto a countertop coffee brewer felt entirely natural:
“We had been admirers and customers of MORNING long before this project came about. There was a natural connection between a machine made for that first ritual of the day and a collection that finds the extraordinary in the ordinary. Bringing the two together felt very natural to us, and even more meaningful knowing that the pieces will support the work of Rainbow Centre.”
Leon Foo, Co-Founder and CEO of MORNING, echoes this synergy: “The stronger story is two Singapore-born design brands, working in completely different mediums, but sharing an obsession with objects, craft and everyday rituals.”
Three One-of-a-Kind Canvas Machines: Crafting in Mother-of-Pearl
To bring Mika’s whimsical universe onto MORNING’s sleek, minimalist silhouette, the artisans translated elements originally forged in precious gold and bezel-set gemstones into delicate, hand-cut mother-of-pearl marquetry. The natural nacre reacts dynamically to ambient room light, casting subtle shifts in tone and luster across the matte black surfaces of each machine.
1. The Railroad: “The route is rarely straight”
- Starting Bid: S$1,350 (bid increments of S$50)
- Physical Display: MORNING @ New Bahru (46 Kim Yam Road, #01-13)
In Mika’s story, tracks do not conform to straight lines; they loop backward, corkscrew through space, and lead toward destinations absent from conventional maps. On the machine, the winding tracks are articulated through individually hand-laid slivers of mother-of-pearl running down both flanking panels. Combining geometric precision with playful, spontaneous flow, the piece acts as a morning reminder that life’s best journeys frequently take unplanned turns.
2. The Toadstool: “A glowing terrain”
- Starting Bid: S$1,250 (bid increments of S$50)
- Physical Display: MORNING @ Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Level B1 (#B1-30A)
Inspired by Mika’s description of an alien planet blanketed in bioluminescent mushrooms, this design pares back the organism until only the bold, dotted texture of the fungal cap remains. Circular discs of shimmering mother-of-pearl are set across the black chassis, creating a natural glow that mirrors celestial bodies. The piece invites observers to look twice at everyday shapes, discovering elegance within organic forms.
3. The Cosmic Egg: “Where everything begins”
- Starting Bid: S$1,150 (bid increments of S$50)
- Physical Display: State Property Boutique @ Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Level 3 (#03-09B)
Representing the origin of Mika’s quest, The Cosmic Egg draws directly from State Property’s signature gemstone settings, where delicate pointed stars hold center stones firmly in place. Repeated across the brewer’s side panels in multifaceted mother-of-pearl, the pointed starbursts evoke a starry night sky. As morning sunlight filters across the kitchen counter, the shell’s iridescence illuminates the star motifs with shifting undertones.
Supporting Inclusion: A Decade-Long Mission with Rainbow Centre
Beyond design prestige, this collaboration is anchored in purpose. For nearly forty years, Rainbow Centre has served children and adults with disabilities in Singapore, partnering with families to nurture self-reliance, essential developmental skills, and social inclusion.
Because The Story of Everything was conceived through the honest expression of a child, directing the auction’s entire proceeds to Rainbow Centre felt like a natural harmony of values.
“We are delighted that State Property and MORNING have chosen Rainbow Centre as the beneficiary of this unique collaboration,” says Peng Hai Ying, Executive Director of Rainbow Centre, Singapore. “It is a wonderful example of how creativity, craftsmanship and purpose can come together to create social impact. Beyond the funds raised, initiatives like these help build greater visibility and understanding of the importance of inclusion for persons with disabilities.”
Online Auction Details and Viewing Locations
The three bespoke creations will be offered via an open digital bidding platform from 14 October to 25 October 2026. Collectors, design enthusiasts, and supporters of the cause can view the physical pieces at three prime design destinations across Singapore before placing bids online.
- Online Auction Portal:
[airauctioneer.com/state-property-x-morning](https://airauctioneer.com/state-property-x-morning) - Auction Timeline: Opens 14 October 2026; closes 25 October 2026
- Bidding Increments: S$50 across all three lots
Where to Experience the Pieces in Person:
- State Property Boutique391 Orchard Road, #03-09B, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Singapore 238872Exhibiting: The Cosmic Egg
- MORNING at Takashimaya S.C.391 Orchard Road, #B1-30A, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Singapore 238872Exhibiting: The Toadstool
- MORNING at New Bahru46 Kim Yam Road, #01-13, Singapore 239351Exhibiting: The Railroad
By fusing high jewellery artistry with coffee technology, State Property and MORNING demonstrate that intentional design can do more than elevate our living spaces—it can empower lives and give back meaningfully to the community.
