Ruth Castle was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1928 and studied art at Canterbury University College. After graduating, she worked as a teacher and a textile designer. In 1967, she travelled to Asia to study traditional weaving techniques. This trip had a profound impact on her work and she began to experiment with new materials and techniques.

In the 1970s, Castle began to exhibit her work in galleries and museums around New Zealand. She was awarded a number of grants and fellowships, which allowed her to travel and study further. In 1981, she was awarded a QEII Arts Council grant to travel to California and Mexico to study Native American weaving techniques. Castle's work is characterized by its use of natural materials, such as rattan, flax, and wool. She often used these materials in unexpected ways, creating intricate and delicate patterns. Her work is also known for its more...

45 items found:

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

Ruth Castle, round dish, fine rattan (Af), diameter 28 cm

Ruth Castle, round dish, fine rattan (Af), diameter 28 cm

Ruth Castle woven wall hanging, dyed rattan core, check pattern,…

Checkered Rattan Wall Hanging

Ruth Castle woven wall hanging, dyed rattan core, check pattern, 31.5 cm diameter

Ruth Castle, Hanging basket, fine woven rattan, 33 cm high

Rattan Hanging Basket, 33 cm High

Ruth Castle, Hanging basket, fine woven rattan, 33 cm high

Ruth Castle, Two woven dishes, fine woven rattan, 33 cm…

Fine Woven Rattan Dishes by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, Two woven dishes, fine woven rattan, 33 cm diameter and 28 cm diameter

Two Ruth Castle woven rattan cane platters with dark dyed…

Rattan Platters with Dark Centers and Rims

Two Ruth Castle woven rattan cane platters with dark dyed centres and rims. Diameter 390 and 27 cm.

Ruth Castle, large hanging form, fine rattan core dyed with…

Condys Dyed Rattan Hanging Form by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, large hanging form, fine rattan core dyed with Condys crystals, made using a fish basket technique, 53 x 34 x 30 cm

Ruth Castle, hanging flask, jute and rattan, a bird feather…

Hanging Flask with Feather and Natural Materials

Ruth Castle, hanging flask, jute and rattan, a bird feather attached to the front, 19 x 15 x 7 cm

Ruth Castle, hanging bird form, rattan and jacaranda, 30 x 12 x…

Hanging Rattan Bird Form by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, hanging bird form, rattan and jacaranda, 30 x 12 x 12 cm

Ruth Castle, woven rattan fruit basket with handle, 34 cm height

Woven Rattan Fruit Basket with Handle by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, woven rattan fruit basket with handle, 34 cm height

Ruth Castle, dyed rattan core woven wall hanging, check pattern,…

Check Pattern Rattan Wall Hanging by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, dyed rattan core woven wall hanging, check pattern, 25 cm diameter

Ruth Castle, dyed rattan core woven wall hanging, sunflower…

Sunflower Rattan Wall Hanging, 36cm Diameter

Ruth Castle, dyed rattan core woven wall hanging, sunflower pattern, 36 cm diameter

A vintage Ruth Castle hand woven cane dish, Star of David',…

Vintage Ruth Castle Cane Dish with Star of David

A vintage Ruth Castle hand woven cane dish, Star of David', dark dyed rim and centre, diameter 23.4 cm

Ruth Castle large woven basket, vine ribs, part nikau weaving,…

Ruth Castle Woven Basket from Marie Potter Collection

Ruth Castle large woven basket, vine ribs, part nikau weaving, length 44 cm. Provenance: The Marie Potter Collection. See lot 301 for details.

Ruth Castle, check dish, fine rattan core dyed with Condys…

Condys Crystal Dyed Rattan Check Dish

Ruth Castle, check dish, fine rattan core dyed with Condys crystals, Diameter 26 cm. Provenance: John Perry collection

Ruth Castle, large radiating dish, fish basket weaving…

Radiating Fish Basket: Ruth Castle's Rattan Dish

Ruth Castle, large radiating dish, fish basket weaving technique, fine rattan core dyed with Condys crystals, Diameter 54 cm. Provenance: John Perry collection

A Ruth Castle large 'Sunflower' pattern decorative woven rattan…

Large Sunflower Woven Rattan Dish, 28.5 cm Diameter

A Ruth Castle large 'Sunflower' pattern decorative woven rattan core dish, dyed highlights, diameter 28.5 cm

Ruth Castle large 'Sunflower' pattern decorative woven rattan…

Rattan Sunflower Dish by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle large 'Sunflower' pattern decorative woven rattan core dish, dyed highlights, diameter 36.5 cm.

Ruth Castle, dyed rattan decorative dish, 41 cm diameter

Dyed Rattan Decorative Dish by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, dyed rattan decorative dish, 41 cm diameter

Ruth Castle, dyed woven rattan platter, mid 1970s, diameter 36…

Dyed Woven Rattan Platter by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, dyed woven rattan platter, mid 1970s, diameter 36 cm

Ruth Castle, woven basket (from blind and touch exhibition in…

"Woven Touch: Ruth Castle's Blind Basketry Exhibition"

Ruth Castle, woven basket (from blind and touch exhibition in Paramata 2001)160 12.5 x 5.5 cm

Two Ruth Castle open work basket dishes, of typical circular…

Ruth Castle Open Work Basket Dishes (2) - 34cm

Two Ruth Castle open work basket dishes, of typical circular shallow form. Diameter 34 cm

Ruth Castle, hanging garlic basket with fine rattan core, 45 cm…

Hanging Garlic Basket with Rattan Core

Ruth Castle, hanging garlic basket with fine rattan core, 45 cm high approx.

Ruth Castle, onion basket, fine rattan core and dyed with…

Condys Crystal Dyed Onion Basket with Rattan Core

Ruth Castle, onion basket, fine rattan core and dyed with condys crystals (some damage), height 48 cm

Ruth Castle, garlic basket, fine rattan core and dyed with…

Dyed Rattan Garlic Basket by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, garlic basket, fine rattan core and dyed with condys crystals, height 31 cm

Ruth Castle, large garlic basket, fine rattan core and dyed…

Dyed Rattan Garlic Basket by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, large garlic basket, fine rattan core and dyed with condys crystals, height 40 cm

Ruth Castle, rare hanging form, fine rattan core dyed with…

Condys Crystal Dyed Rattan Hanging Form

Ruth Castle, rare hanging form, fine rattan core dyed with Condys crystals, made using a fish basket technique, height 51 cm

Ruth Castle, vintage twist, of unusual large size, fine rattan…

Vintage Condys Crystal Rattan Twist Chair - 1979 Design

Ruth Castle, vintage twist, of unusual large size, fine rattan core dyed with Condys crystals. Made for the new building of the Waitakere city Council in 1979. Height 1,70 cm

Ruth Castle, two circular platters, fine rattan core, dyed with…

Condys Dyed Rattan Platters

Ruth Castle, two circular platters, fine rattan core, dyed with Condys crystals on a wire circle Depth 35.5 cm max

Ruth Castle, rare hanging form, fine rattan core dyed with…

Rare Hanging Rattan Form by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, rare hanging form, fine rattan core dyed with Condys crystals made using a fish basket technique. Height 45 cm. This is one of three unique hanging forms that Ruth Castle made in 1960s.

Ruth Castle, hanging basket,. Height 18 cm

Ruth's 18cm Hanging Basket

Ruth Castle, hanging basket,. Height 18 cm

Ruth Castle, woven bowl, Phoenix palm tendrils and Palembang.…

Phoenix Palm Woven Bowl

Ruth Castle, woven bowl, Phoenix palm tendrils and Palembang. Diameter 20 cm

Ruth Castle, onion basket, dye and natural cane. Height 45 cm

Onion Basket: Natural Dye and Cane, 45cm Height

Ruth Castle, onion basket, dye and natural cane. Height 45 cm

Ruth Castle, onion basket, dyed and natural cane. Length 43 cm

Onion Basket: Natural and Dyed Cane

Ruth Castle, onion basket, dyed and natural cane. Length 43 cm

Ruth Castle, check dish, fine rattan core dyed with Condys…

Condys Dyed Rattan Check Dish - 38cm Diameter

Ruth Castle, check dish, fine rattan core dyed with Condys crystals, diameter 38 cm

Ruth Castle, woven baskets, a pair of woven cane baskets (2).…

Woven Cane Baskets (Pair)

Ruth Castle, woven baskets, a pair of woven cane baskets (2). Length 49 cm. (largest)

Ruth Castle, bowl form, constructed from rattan and phoenix…

Rattan and Phoenix Palm Bowl by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, bowl form, constructed from rattan and phoenix palm tendrils

Ruth Castle, bowl form, jute and rattan. Diameter 30 cm

Jute and Rattan Bowl by Ruth Castle

Ruth Castle, bowl form, jute and rattan. Diameter 30 cm

Ruth Castle, hanging bird form, rattan and jacaranda. Length 33…

Rattan and Jacaranda Hanging Bird Sculpture

Ruth Castle, hanging bird form, rattan and jacaranda. Length 33 cm

Ruth Castle, large garlic basket, fine rattan core and…

Rattan Garlic Basket with Palembang Dye

Ruth Castle, large garlic basket, fine rattan core and Palembang dyed with condys crystals made using a fish basket technique. Length 36 cm

Ruth Castle, dish, fish basket technique, fine rattan core dyed…

Rattan Fish Basket Dish

Ruth Castle, dish, fish basket technique, fine rattan core dyed with condys crystals. Diameter 34 cm

Ruth Castle, Star of David, fine rattan core dyed with condys…

Rattan Star of David Wreath

Ruth Castle, Star of David, fine rattan core dyed with condys crystals on a wire circle. Diameter 46 cm

Ruth Castle, two small baskets. 'Star of David' and 'Check'…

Rattan Baskets: Star & Check Design

Ruth Castle, two small baskets. 'Star of David' and 'Check' fine rattan core, dyed with Condys crystals on a wire circle, each 23 cm

Ruth Castle, onion basket. fine rattan core and Palembang dyed…

Palembang Onion Basket

Ruth Castle, onion basket. fine rattan core and Palembang dyed with Condys crystals, made using a fish basket technique. Length 42 cm

Ruth Castle, 'Sunflower' dish. fine rattan core, dyed with…

Condys Sunflower Dish

Ruth Castle, 'Sunflower' dish. fine rattan core, dyed with Condys crystals on a wire circle. Diameter 46 cm

Ruth Castle, 'Check' dish, fine rattan core, dyed with Condys…

Condys Crystal Rattan Check Dish

Ruth Castle, 'Check' dish, fine rattan core, dyed with Condys crystals on a wire circle. Diameter 44 cm