A Fender guitar pick, owned and used by Jimi Hendrix. The pick was originally acquired from Hendrix’s girlfriend, Emilie ‘Rainbow’ Touraine. One of Hendrix’s last visits to Touraine’s southern California home was in 1970, to see the recently born colt, ‘Axis: Bold As Love,’ which Jimi and Emilie had purchased. Touraine was quite influential in Hendrix’s musical life upon their first meeting in 1969, as she fostered his already keen fascination with a school of thought based on musical notes having color; a concept he shared with a Disc and Music Echo journalist: ‘I want to get color into music. I’d lke to play a note and have it come out a color.’ It was Touriane who, along with Jimi and film producer Chuck Wein, proposed the concept of Rainbow Bridge. The documentary film followed Pat Hartley's ‘spiritual awakening’ via a visit to the 'Rainbow Bridge' planetary meditation cult on Maui, where, as part of the proceedings Hendrix played a concert on July 30, 1970, during a 'Rainbow Bridge' mass meditation/color/sound ‘experiment.’ Touraine also designed some of Jimi’s clothes, including his Rainbow Bridge concert attire.
The current owner relates that he procured the pick from Touraine a year or two after Jimi’s death; Touraine telling him that Jimi played guitar at her place whenever he was visiting, leaving this particular one behind during one such visit. The well-worn Fender pick with several edge chips is accompanied by a color photo of Emilie ‘Rainbow’ Touraine with the fully grown ‘Axis: Bold As Love.’ On the reverse of the color photograph on six lines is handwritten: “Jimi’s Horse…’Axis: Bold As Love’…Born May 12, 1970…Morab Breed…Half Arabian…Half Morgan…National Champion.”
RRAuction COA.
