Born in 1924, Len Castle completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Auckland in 1946.

He was introduced to pottery at night classes while training to be a secondary school teacher.

His career path turned after he won a scholarship to study with master potter Bernard Leach in St Ives, Cornwall. During this period, recalled Castle, he absorbed a strong work ethic and became strongly drawn to the Oriental aesthetic.

Castle returned from England to a job teaching science at Auckland Teachers' College.

In 1963, he left the Teachers' College and became a professional potter, and in the same year, was instrumental in establishing the New Zealand Society of Potters.

In 1966, he won a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council fellowship, which he used to go to Japan and Hawaii. His trip cemented his love of Japanese pottery.

In 1986, Castle was made a Commander of the more...

53 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

If you are seeking to purchase similar items CLICK HERE to view 40 similar items being offered for sale by dealers at our AntiquesPlus site.

Len Castle, Octagonal platter, stoneware with red copper…

Octagonal Stoneware Platter with Red Copper Effects by Len Castle

Len Castle, Octagonal platter, stoneware with red copper effects on tenmoku glaze, diameter 32 cm, Provenance: Collection of Hans and Elizabeth Swier

Len Castle, Stoneware platter, with wax resist gestural…

Len Castle Stoneware Platter with Gestural Decoration, 32 cm

Len Castle, Stoneware platter, with wax resist gestural decoration, impressed potter's mark to the base, width 32 cm, Provenance: Collection of Hans and Elizabeth Swier

Barry Brickell, Unusual stoneware platter, of oval form,…

Barry Brickell Stoneware Platter, Signed, 1960s, Len Castle Provenance

Barry Brickell, Unusual stoneware platter, of oval form, decorated with patches of black, grey, blue and tenmoku glazes to the centre, ca. 1960s, signed Barry Brickell to the base, diameter 31.5 cm, Provenance: Purchased from Len Castle when he left…

Len Castle, large alkaline blue platter, with impressed pattern…

Len Castle, large alkaline blue platter, with impressed pattern to the well, impressed vertical Lc mark to the base, width 44 cm

Len Castle, Impressive charger, with alkaline blue glaze and…

Alkaline Blue Charger with Rope Decoration by Len Castle

Len Castle, Impressive charger, with alkaline blue glaze and impressed rope decoration, impressed LC mark near to the foot and (later?) incised letter 'A', 54 x 54 x 8 cm

Len Castle, Stoneware platter, with rope decoration on an iron…

Iron Glaze Platter with Rope Decoration by Len Castle

Len Castle, Stoneware platter, with rope decoration on an iron glaze, impressed potter's cypher to the base, Width 30.5 cm

A vintage Len Castle platter of rounded rectangular form, the…

Len Castle Teal and Brown Rectangular Platter

A vintage Len Castle platter of rounded rectangular form, the light teal and brown centre with impressed pattern, rolled brown rim, impressed mark to base. 30 x 26 cm.

Len Castle, Large press-moulded platter, stoneware with shino…

Len Castle Press-Moulded Platter with Shino Glaze

Len Castle, Large press-moulded platter, stoneware with shino glaze, decorated with impressed pattern to the cavetto, impressed C mark to base, width 41 cm. Provenance: Collection of the Castle Family

Len Castle, Large press-moulded platter, shino glazed stoneware,…

Shino Glazed Platter with Impressed Pattern

Len Castle, Large press-moulded platter, shino glazed stoneware, impressed pattern to the cavetto, impressed potter's cypher to base, width 41 cm

Len Castle, Large rectangular platter, stoneware with 'tipped…

Tipped-in Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, Large rectangular platter, stoneware with 'tipped in' textured clay inclusion to the well, pale green ash glaze and oxide wash, width 47 cm

Len Castle, Large rectangular platter, ash glazed stoneware,…

Ash Glazed Stoneware Platter with Impressed Stamps and Cypher

Len Castle, Large rectangular platter, ash glazed stoneware, the deep well walls impressed with various stamps, some attributed to Theo Schoon, impressed rope pattern to the centre, impressed potter's cypher to base, width 44 cm

Len Castle, large rectangular platter c1980s, tenmoku glaze…

Tenmoku Glazed Rectangular Platter with Ash Overglaze

Len Castle, large rectangular platter c1980s, tenmoku glaze with green/blue ash over glaze with impressions to well, impressed mark, 42 cm length

A large Len Castle platter, stoneware. A square shape with…

Len Castle Stoneware Platter - Square with Raised Sides

A large Len Castle platter, stoneware. A square shape with raised sides. Width 38.5 cm, diameter 35 cm

A Len Castle platter, made from earthenware. Maker's mark to…

Len Castle Earthenware Platter with Maker's Mark

A Len Castle platter, made from earthenware. Maker's mark to the base underside. Width 36 cm, diameter 32 cm

A Len Castle large earthenware platter, with alkaline blue…

Len Castle Alkaline Blue Earthenware Platter (Impressed Initials)

A Len Castle large earthenware platter, with alkaline blue glaze impressed initials, width 42 cm, length 43 cm

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, stoneware with ash glaze…

Ash Glazed Stoneware Platter with Rope Decoration

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, stoneware with ash glaze and impressed rope decoration, impressed mark and dated 1960's to affixed label, width 40 cm

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, stoneware with shino…

Len Castle Shino Glazed Rectangular Platter

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, stoneware with shino glaze and impressed decoration, impressed mark and dated 1960's to affixed label, width 38.5 cm

A large Len Castle earthenware platter, square form with dark…

Len Castle Iron Glazed Square Platter

A large Len Castle earthenware platter, square form with dark iron glaze, old repair to rim, signed 'Lc' on the reverse, length 40 cm, width 39 cm

Len Castle, platter, ceramic, 39 x 35 cm, artist's stamp…

Stamped Ceramic Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, platter, ceramic, 39 x 35 cm, artist's stamp impressed on base

Len Castle, Large rectangular platter, stoneware with ash glaze…

Ash Glazed Stoneware Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, Large rectangular platter, stoneware with ash glaze and impressed pattern, impressed signature to base, 43 cm wide

Len Castle platter with incised floral stem decoration,…

Len Castle Floral Platter

Len Castle platter with incised floral stem decoration, impressed mark, 39 cm length

Len Castle, squared platter, stoneware with tenmoku glaze,…

Tenmoku Glazed Stoneware Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, squared platter, stoneware with tenmoku glaze, incised initials, 39.5 cm wide

Len Castle, small platter with impressed Theo Schoon type…

Impressed Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, small platter with impressed Theo Schoon type impressions, 32 cm length

Len Castle shallow rectangular platter, impressed mark, 39 cm…

Len Castle rectangular platter, 39 cm

Len Castle shallow rectangular platter, impressed mark, 39 cm length

A massive Len Castle charger, in turquoise and blue glazes…

Len Castle Turquoise & Blue Glaze Charger (1990)

A massive Len Castle charger, in turquoise and blue glazes circa 1990, impressed Lc mark, diameter 51 cm, height 12 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware rectangular platter, with dark…

Stamped Shino Platter with Fire Safety Motifs

Len Castle, large stoneware rectangular platter, with dark shino glaze and a series of stamped motifs to the well. The symbols are based on the fire safety kanji Len Castle saw on Japanese farm houses under the eaves on his trip there in 1966/67, width 40…

Len Castle, large stoneware shino glazed platter, with…

Shino Platter with Impressed Decoration by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware shino glazed platter, with impressed decoration, impressed mark, width 38 cm

Len Castle, stoneware rectangular platter with matt green &…

Len Castle Stoneware Platter with Green & Tenmoku Glazes

Len Castle, stoneware rectangular platter with matt green & tenmoku glazes, impressed mark, 30 cm length

Len Castle, press moulded rectangular stoneware platter with…

Impressed Stoneware Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, press moulded rectangular stoneware platter with impressed motifs, impressed mark, 41.5 cm length

Len Castle 'Sea Secret' platter, flat oval form with radiating…

Radiating Ribbed Platter with Blue Glaze and Incised Coral

Len Castle 'Sea Secret' platter, flat oval form with radiating cut ribs, the central small well with blue glaze and fine incised decoration, the back fully incised in coral type decoration, small oval tapered foot. Impressed mark. 32 cm x 21 cm x 4.5 cm

Len Castle, press moulded rectangular stoneware platter, with…

Olive Green Press-Moulded Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, press moulded rectangular stoneware platter, with impressed motifs to the well in olive green ash glaze, late 1960s, C mark, length 43 cm

Len Castle, stoneware platter, in colonial shino and brown…

Falcon Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, stoneware platter, in colonial shino and brown glazes with wax resist double falcon modernist motif in tenmoku glaze, 1970s, diameter 40 cm. Len Castle was fascinated by his boyhood sighting of a native falcon and used falcon heads widely in…

Len Castle, circular platter, in colonial shino with combed…

Colonial Shino Platter with Samurai Comb Decoration

Len Castle, circular platter, in colonial shino with combed decoration to the well, circa 1970s, diameter 31 cm. The decoration on this platter was created using an antique samurai comb that Len Castle was given when he was in Japan.

Len Castle, circular platter, in colonial shino with scored…

Colonial Shino Platter with Radiating Lines

Len Castle, circular platter, in colonial shino with scored lines radiating from the centre, circa 1970s, diameter 32 cm

Len Castle, rectangular stoneware platter, with 'Tipped in'…

Green Glazed Stoneware Platter with Textured Inclusion

Len Castle, rectangular stoneware platter, with 'Tipped in' textured clay inclusion to the well, pale green ash glaze and oxide wash, circa early 1960s, C mark, length 44 cm

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, with textured clay…

Textured Platter by Len Castle, 1960s

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, with textured clay inclusion to the well and pie crust rim, brown and tan through to black ash glazes, early 1960s, C mark, length 44 cm

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, in stoneware with ash…

Ash-Glazed Stoneware Platter with Japanese-Inspired Symbols

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, in stoneware with ash glaze in blue/green and a series of stamped motifs to the well, length 40 cm. The symbols are based on the fire safety kanji Len Castle saw on Japanese farm houses under the eaves on his trip…

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, in stoneware with a…

Stippled Stoneware Platter with Tenmoku Glaze

Len Castle, large rectangular platter, in stoneware with a stippled well and various impressions around the inner rim, tenmoku glaze with green/blue ash overglaze, 1980s, length 40 cm

Len Castle, early rectangular platter, with stippled well in…

Stippled Treacle and Blue Glass Platter

Len Castle, early rectangular platter, with stippled well in treacle glaze with pooled blue glass glaze, 1960s, C mark, length 35 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware platter, with purple glaze over…

Purple Stoneware Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware platter, with purple glaze over tenmoku, impressed initials. Diameter 40.5 cm. Provenance: originally in the Brian brake collection.

Len Castle, large stoneware deep platter, with ash glaze,…

Ash Glaze Stoneware Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware deep platter, with ash glaze, impressed initials. Width 39 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware platter, with brushed decoration,…

Brushed Stoneware Platter with Jun Glaze and Initials

Len Castle, large stoneware platter, with brushed decoration, jun glaze over tenmoku, impressed initials. Width 44 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware platter, with impressed decoration…

Impressed Stoneware Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware platter, with impressed decoration and dark brown and green ash glaze impressed initials width 46.5 cm

Len Castle, porcelain red glazed bowl, and an octagonal platter…

Red Porcelain Bowl and Octagonal Platter, 31cm

Len Castle, porcelain red glazed bowl, and an octagonal platter (damaged) both marked width 31 cm max

Len Castle, large earthenware platter, with alkaline blue glaze…

Alkaline Blue Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, large earthenware platter, with alkaline blue glaze impressed initials width 44 cm

Len Castle, stoneware rectangular platter, with blue glaze over…

Blue Glazed Stoneware Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, stoneware rectangular platter, with blue glaze over tenmoku. Length 30 cm

Len Castle. Large porcelain platter with blue glaze. Diameter…

Blue Glazed Porcelain Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle. Large porcelain platter with blue glaze. Diameter 52 cm

A Len Castle brown stoneware charger with stripped wax resist…

Len Castle Stripped Charger, 1970s

A Len Castle brown stoneware charger with stripped wax resist decoration, stamped to the base, circa 1970s. Height 8 cm. Diameter 39.5 cm

Len Castle, stippled deep well platter, impressed mark, 59 cm…

Stippled Deep Well Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle, stippled deep well platter, impressed mark, 59 cm length

Len Castle. Platter, stoneware with a rolled edge and a band of…

Wavy Stoneware Platter by Len Castle

Len Castle. Platter, stoneware with a rolled edge and a band of wavy decoration under tenmoku to rim. Height 5.5 cm. Length 37 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware square charger, with blue glaze,…

Blue Stoneware Charger by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware square charger, with blue glaze, impressed mark. Width 42 cm

Len Castle, platter, stoneware, oblong with shino glaze, rolled…

Shino Glaze Stoneware Platter with Impressed Decoration

Len Castle, platter, stoneware, oblong with shino glaze, rolled edge and impressed decoration. Impressed mark. Height 6.5 cm. Length 37.5 cm

Len Castle (attributed), platters, a stoneware shino glazed…

Shino Glazed Platters and Baking Dish Set

Len Castle (attributed), platters, a stoneware shino glazed platter with a thick rolled edge and a baking dish with similar glaze (2). Height 6 cm. Length 38 cm