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...

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A tall Len Castle tubular pottery vase, of wasted form with…

Len Castle Tubular Pottery Vase with Blue Wave Glaze

A tall Len Castle tubular pottery vase, of wasted form with everted rim and matt blue wave glaze in dark blue to pinkish mauve tones. Impressed monogram mark, height 29.5 cm

Len Castle small bottle vase in dark green ash glaze, late 50's,…

Len Castle Green Ash Glaze Bottle Vase, 1950s

Len Castle small bottle vase in dark green ash glaze, late 50's, impressed mark, 11 cm height

Len Castle small bottle vase, from 1998 Retro series, where…

Len Castle Retro Series Bottle Vase

Len Castle small bottle vase, from 1998 Retro series, where Castle used his old marks from 60's, impressed mark, 14 cm height

Len Castle bottle vase in shino glaze, early 70s, ex Rosemary…

Len Castle Shino Glaze Bottle Vase, 1970s

Len Castle bottle vase in shino glaze, early 70s, ex Rosemary Mueller Collection sold at Webbs 1999, impressed mark, 24 cm height

Len Castle discoid vase in dark oxide wash c. late 60s,…

Len Castle Dark Oxide Discoid Vase - 37cm

Len Castle discoid vase in dark oxide wash c. late 60s, impressed mark, 37 cm height

A Len Castle tapered double aperture vase, flattened ovoid form…

Len Castle Tapered Double Aperture Vase with Rubbed Finish

A Len Castle tapered double aperture vase, flattened ovoid form with four small holes below the tapered top as three bars, pigment rubbed finish. Impressed mark. Height 19 cm

Len Castle and Theo Schoon collaboratively designed stoneware…

Collaborative Stoneware Vase by Castle and Schoon

Len Castle and Theo Schoon collaboratively designed stoneware vase, ovoid form with knob type side protrusions, tapered neck, umber glaze, blue internal glaze, impressed potter's mark and incised 'TS'. 19 cm x 14 cm x 14.5 cm

Len Castle large slab form vase, mildly swollen square form…

Swollen Square Vase with Tenmoku Glaze and Chun Overglaze

Len Castle large slab form vase, mildly swollen square form body, the open rectangular neck with flat top rim, the tenmoku glaze with dominant dark tone, dark red/brown showing through, chun overglaze to the shoulder with dribbled effects in pale blue…

Len Castle discoid vase, paper label, 43.5 cm height

Len Castle Discoid Vase - 43.5 cm

Len Castle discoid vase, paper label, 43.5 cm height

Len Castle wall vase, impressed mark, 28.5 cm length

Len Castle Impressed Wall Vase 28.5cm

Len Castle wall vase, impressed mark, 28.5 cm length

Len Castle wall vase, impressed mark, 22.5 cm length

Len Castle Impressed Wall Vase - 22.5 cm

Len Castle wall vase, impressed mark, 22.5 cm length

Len Castle ribbed vase, impressed mark, 12.5 cm. Illustrated:…

Len Castle Ribbed Vase, Impressed Mark, 12.5 cm

Len Castle ribbed vase, impressed mark, 12.5 cm. Illustrated: Elliott & Skinner, Conetendown p. 126

A vintage Len Castle ovoid vase, cylindrical neck, tenmoku…

Len Castle Ovoid Vase with Tenmoku Glaze

A vintage Len Castle ovoid vase, cylindrical neck, tenmoku glaze with gloss red/brown highlights, impressed mark. Height 23 cm

A vintage Len Castle pottery vase, spherical form with four…

Len Castle Pottery Vase with Four Spouts

A vintage Len Castle pottery vase, spherical form with four spout form apertures to the top, impressions to the shoulder between, the top with thick caramel toned rock-ash type glaze, unglazed lower body, impressed mark, c.1960. Height 23.5 cm

A large Len Castle 'Inverted Volcano' 10 vase, moulded…

Len Castle Inverted Volcano Vase with Red Interior

A large Len Castle 'Inverted Volcano' 10 vase, moulded earthenware with grey textured exterior surfaces and bright red glazed interior. Impressed cypher under the base. Width 85 cm

Len Castle, grass vase. Impressed mark, 18 cm height.…

Len Castle Grass Vase, 18 cm, Ex Doris Dutch Estate

Len Castle, grass vase. Impressed mark, 18 cm height. Provenance: Ex Doris Dutch Estate

Len Castle, rare and unusual Crum Brickworks salt glazed bottle…

Rare Salt Glazed Flambe Bottle Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, rare and unusual Crum Brickworks salt glazed bottle vase, the salt glaze with an unusual 'Flambe' look achieved by a blend of titanium and vanadium, LC mark. Height 18.5 cm. Provenance: originally purchased from the Wellington architectural…

Len Castle, stoneware bottle vase, with green glaze and…

Green Glazed Stoneware Vase with Textured Surface

Len Castle, stoneware bottle vase, with green glaze and textured surface, incised initials. Height 30 cm

Len Castle New Zealand studio pottery stoneware vase, with…

Len Castle Stoneware Vase with Brown Glaze

Len Castle New Zealand studio pottery stoneware vase, with brown and neutral glazed tones, height 14.5 cm approx

Len Castle, blue orb vase, in rich blue barium glaze with…

Blue Barium Vase with Turquoise Highlights

Len Castle, blue orb vase, in rich blue barium glaze with turquoise highlights, circa 1990s, LC mark, height 13 cm

Len Castle, bottle vase, in the Japanese manner with tenmoku…

Len Castle's Tenmoku Glazed Bottle Vase with Quince Blossoms

Len Castle, bottle vase, in the Japanese manner with tenmoku glaze and wax resist quince blossom motifs on a pearlescent brown ground, circa 1980, C mark, height 30 cm. Illustrated: craft New Zealand, Doreen Blumhardt and Brian brake, 1981, page 247 and…

Len Castle, large and impressive discoid vase, in iron oxide…

Iron Oxide Stoneware Vase with Rope Impressions

Len Castle, large and impressive discoid vase, in iron oxide washed stoneware with three rope impressions to each side, circa 1970, C mark, height 45 cm

Len Castle, crumb Brickworks stoneware vase, tall cylindrical…

Len Castle Crumb Brickworks Stoneware Vase

Len Castle, crumb Brickworks stoneware vase, tall cylindrical form with rich golden brown slip. Glazed at the crumb Brickworks, circa 1951, C mark, height 28 cm. Provenance: from the collection of Nancy Beck, purchased at the Albany village Potters…

Len Castle, crumb Brickworks squat ovoid vase, with mid brown…

Crumb Brickworks Ovoid Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, crumb Brickworks squat ovoid vase, with mid brown manganese slip and salt glaze. Glazed at the crumb brickworks, circa 1954, Castellated mark, height 16 cm, illustrated Cone ten Down: the Studio movement in New Zealand pottery 1945-1980 by…

Len Castle, crumb Brickworks ovoid vase, with mid brown…

Crumb Brickworks Ovoid Vase with Salt Glaze, circa 1950

Len Castle, crumb Brickworks ovoid vase, with mid brown manganese slip and salt glaze. Glazed at the crumb Brickworks, circa 1950, C mark, height 22 cm

Len Castle, 'Helen Mason' vase, 1958, Triparte vase with…

Helen Mason Vase, 1958

Len Castle, 'Helen Mason' vase, 1958, Triparte vase with cylindrical base and ovoid centre section and conical neck in oatmeal grey glaze with brown motif to the centre, height 27 cm, Used on the poster to advertise the New Zealand Studio potters 2nd…

Len Castle, early squat hexagonal vase, with flared rim in rich…

Tenmoku Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, early squat hexagonal vase, with flared rim in rich tenmoku glaze, circa 1958, C mark, height 17 cm

Len Castle, stoneware blossom vase, with tenmoku glaze with jun…

Stoneware Blossom Vase with Tenmoku and Jun Glaze

Len Castle, stoneware blossom vase, with tenmoku glaze with jun glaze to the shoulders and neck. This example is the last one of these made in June 1995 by special order for the vendor, LC mark, height 57 cm

Len Castle, ovoid vase, with rolled neck in various barium blue…

Barium Blue Ovoid Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, ovoid vase, with rolled neck in various barium blue glazes, circa 1990s, LC mark, height 23 cm

Len Castle, ovoid stoneware vase, with fire symbol motif in…

Green/Grey Ash Glazed Ovoid Vase with Fire Symbol Motif

Len Castle, ovoid stoneware vase, with fire symbol motif in green/grey ash glazes with, 1960s, C mark, height 23 cm

Len Castle, cylindrical stoneware vase, in heavily textured…

Textured Stoneware Vase with Ash Glaze Interior

Len Castle, cylindrical stoneware vase, in heavily textured iron oxide washed stoneware with dark green ash glaze interior, 1960s, C mark, height 19 cm

Len Castle, early stoneware gourd form bottle vase, in white…

Early Stoneware Gourd Form Bottle Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, early stoneware gourd form bottle vase, in white and brown glazed stoneware, rope indentations to the body, early 1960s, C mark, width 24 cm

Len Castle, double necked orb vase, in heavily textured oxide…

Double Necked Orb Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, double necked orb vase, in heavily textured oxide washed stoneware, 1980s, LC mark, width 20 cm

Len Castle, small discoid vase, with three rope impressions to…

Roped Discoid Vase with Iron Oxide Wash

Len Castle, small discoid vase, with three rope impressions to each face and iron oxide washed in rich brown, c1960s, C mark, height 33 cm

Len Castle, large gourd form bottle vase, with gnarled rim and…

Gourd Vase with White Glaze and Blue/Brown Highlights

Len Castle, large gourd form bottle vase, with gnarled rim and scored sides in heavy feldspathic matt white glaze with blue and brown highlights, mid 1960s, C mark, diameter 41 cm. Refer Len Castle Potter, page 36.

Len Castle, large rectangular slab vase, in heavy colonial…

Len Castle Colonial Shino Vase, 1990

Len Castle, large rectangular slab vase, in heavy colonial shino and feldspathic glazes, circa 1990, LC mark, height 35 cm

Len Castle, stoneware hanging vase, with white ash glaze,…

Unmarked Stoneware Hanging Vase with Ash Glaze - 28cm

Len Castle, stoneware hanging vase, with white ash glaze, unmarked. Height 28 cm

Len Castle, stoneware sedge grass vase, with five apertures,…

Textured Sedge Grass Vase with Five Apertures

Len Castle, stoneware sedge grass vase, with five apertures, with textured surface, impressed initials. Width 27.5 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware vase, with ash brown and grey…

Ash Grey Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware vase, with ash brown and grey glazes, impressed initials. Height 33 cm

Len Castle, press moulded discoid vase, with burnt umber…

Burnt Umber Discoid Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, press moulded discoid vase, with burnt umber pigmented surface, impressed mark. Height 35 cm

Len Castle, stoneware globular vase, with textured umber…

Textured Umber Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, stoneware globular vase, with textured umber pigmented surface, impressed initials. Height 18 cm

Len Castle, Discoid vase, impressed mark, 35 cm, height

Len Castle Discoid Vase, 35cm Height

Len Castle, Discoid vase, impressed mark, 35 cm, height

Len Castle, double aperture vase, impressed mark, 16 cm dia

Len Castle Double Aperture Vase, Impressed Mark, 16cm Dia

Len Castle, double aperture vase, impressed mark, 16 cm dia

Len Castle, small ovoid vase. Height 10 cm. Provenance:…

Castle Family's Ovoid Vase

Len Castle, small ovoid vase. Height 10 cm. Provenance: collection Castle family collection

Len Castle, stoneware bottle vase, c. 1979, with rare fractured…

Fractured Stoneware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, stoneware bottle vase, c. 1979, with rare fractured glaze height 16 cm

Len Castle, early stoneware shaped vase, with light brown ash…

Len Castle Stoneware Vase with Ash Glaze

Len Castle, early stoneware shaped vase, with light brown ash glaze impressed initials height 13 cm

Len Castle, unusual large hanging form ribbed bottle vase,…

Large Ribbed Hanging Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, unusual large hanging form ribbed bottle vase, textured umber pigmented surface incised initials height 44 cm (two tiny chips)

Len Castle, hanging form bottle vase, with impressed spiral…

Impressed Spiral Hanging Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, hanging form bottle vase, with impressed spiral decoration and textured umber pigmented surface impressed initials height 39 cm

Len Castle, stoneware pear-shaped vase, with tenmoku glaze…

Tenmoku Glazed Pear-Shaped Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, stoneware pear-shaped vase, with tenmoku glaze impressed initials height 25 cm

Len Castle, Shino glazed stoneware vase, with 'Pinched' rim…

Shino Vase with Pinched Rim by Len Castle

Len Castle, Shino glazed stoneware vase, with 'Pinched' rim impressed initials height 21 cm

A good mid-1950s Len Castle vase with decoration by Theo Schoon,…

Len Castle Vase with Theo Schoon Decoration

A good mid-1950s Len Castle vase with decoration by Theo Schoon, baluster form, tenmoku and wood ash glaze, the swollen body with four Theo Schoon impressed stamps based on his interpretation of early Maori rock drawings found in Canterbury caves,…

Len Castle, slab sided vase, unmarked, 36 cm height

Slab Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, slab sided vase, unmarked, 36 cm height

Len Castle, slab sided bottle vase, impressed mark, 35 cm height

Len Castle Impressed Slab-Sided Vase, 35cm Height

Len Castle, slab sided bottle vase, impressed mark, 35 cm height

Len Castle, press moulded discoid vase, with burnt umber…

Burnt Umber Discoid Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, press moulded discoid vase, with burnt umber pigmented surface. Height 35 cm

Len Castle, large press moulded discoid vase, with burnt umber…

Discoid Burnt Umber Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, large press moulded discoid vase, with burnt umber pigmented surface. Height 45 cm

Len Castle, sea secrets earthenware vase. Width 30 cm

Sea Secrets Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, sea secrets earthenware vase. Width 30 cm

Len Castle, ovoid stoneware vase, with unusual speckled blue…

Speckled Blue Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, ovoid stoneware vase, with unusual speckled blue glaze. Height 16 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware globular vase, with textured umber…

Textured Umber Stoneware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware globular vase, with textured umber pigmented surface. Height 21 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware globular vase, with textured umber…

Textured Stoneware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware globular vase, with textured umber pigmented surface. Height 24 cm

Len Castle, bottle vase, with jun type glaze over poured…

Jun Tenmoku Bottle Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, bottle vase, with jun type glaze over poured tenmoku. Height 30 cm

Len Castle, bottle vase, with jun type glaze poured over…

Jun-glazed Bottle Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, bottle vase, with jun type glaze poured over tenmoku. Height 34 cm

Len Castle, large bottle vase, with jun type glaze poured over…

Jun Glaze Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, large bottle vase, with jun type glaze poured over tenmoku. Height 42 cm

Len Castle, blossom vase, Tenmoku glaze with lugs handles to…

Tenmoku Blossom Vase with Lugs Handles

Len Castle, blossom vase, Tenmoku glaze with lugs handles to the shoulder. Height 56 cm

Len Castle, blossom vase, the large and impressive vase with…

Rare Blue Blossom Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, blossom vase, the large and impressive vase with rare blue semi matt talc glaze, one of only three blossom vases made by Len Castle with this glaze. Height 56 cm

Len Castle. Ovoid stoneware vase with barium blue glaze. Height…

Barium Blue Stoneware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle. Ovoid stoneware vase with barium blue glaze. Height 26 cm

A Len Castle stoneware bottle vase stamped to base, age unknown.…

Len Castle Stoneware Bottle Vase, 28.5 cm Height

A Len Castle stoneware bottle vase stamped to base, age unknown. Height 28.5 cm. Diameter 18 cm

Len Castle, double necked vase, impressed mark, 23 cm height

Len Castle Double Necked Vase - Impressed Mark - 23cm

Len Castle, double necked vase, impressed mark, 23 cm height

A Len Castle Shino glaze wall vase stamped to rear, circa 1970s.…

Len Castle Shino Glaze Wall Vase, 1970s

A Len Castle Shino glaze wall vase stamped to rear, circa 1970s. Height 28 cm. Width 28 cm

Len Castle, stoneware bottle vase with barium blue glaze…

Barium Blue Stoneware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, stoneware bottle vase with barium blue glaze impressed initials to the base. Height 29 cm

Len Castle, stoneware gourd vase yellow ochre pigment, wood ash…

Len Castle Stoneware Gourd Vase

Len Castle, stoneware gourd vase yellow ochre pigment, wood ash glaze to the neck. LC incised on the base. Height 35 cm. Provenance: from the collection of Ruth Butterworth

Len Castle, blossom vase impressive slab built vase with jun…

Len Castle Jun Glazed Blossom Vase

Len Castle, blossom vase impressive slab built vase with jun glaze over tenmoku impressed initials to the base. Height 53 cm. Provenance: from the collection of Ruth Butterworth

Len Castle, vase, 24 cm height

Len Castle's 24cm Vase

Len Castle, vase, 24 cm height

Len Castle, a large and impressive discoid vase, potter's…

Len Castle Discoid Vase - Impressive Potter's Piece

Len Castle, a large and impressive discoid vase, potter's initials impressed to the base. Diameter 54 cm

Len Castle, branch vase, with jun glaze over tenmoku, impressed…

Jun-glazed Len Castle vase with impressed initials

Len Castle, branch vase, with jun glaze over tenmoku, impressed initials to the base. Height 34.5 cm

Len Castle, stoneware ovoid vase, with ash glaze with pieced…

Ash-glazed stoneware vase with rope-bound lugs

Len Castle, stoneware ovoid vase, with ash glaze with pieced stoneware lugs with rope binding, impressed initials to the base. Height 29 cm

An early Len Castle slab vase, mildly swollen semi-square form,…

Len Castle Wood Ash Glaze Slab Vase

An early Len Castle slab vase, mildly swollen semi-square form, the rounded shoulder supporting the short rectangular tapered neck and flat rim, wood ash glaze, some firing marks. Impressed potter's monogram to inside top rim, c.1960s/70s. 30 cm x 18 cm x…

Len Castle. Vase, early stoneware with four apertures, mottled…

Len Castle Blue Glazed Stoneware Vase with Four Apertures

Len Castle. Vase, early stoneware with four apertures, mottled blue glaze. Impressed mark. Height 24 cm. Diameter 24 cm

Len Castle. Speciman vase, earthenware. Impressed mark. Height…

Len Castle Earthenware Vase

Len Castle. Speciman vase, earthenware. Impressed mark. Height 10 cm

Len Castle. Speciman vase, earthenware. Impressed mark. Height…

Len Castle Earthenware Vase

Len Castle. Speciman vase, earthenware. Impressed mark. Height 6.5 cm

Len Castle. Speciman vase, earthenware with unglazed textured…

Textured Earthenware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle. Speciman vase, earthenware with unglazed textured surface. Impressed mark. Height 17.5 cm

Len Castle. Speciman vase, earthenware with a dark stain to…

Len Castle Earthenware Speciman Vase

Len Castle. Speciman vase, earthenware with a dark stain to exterior. Impressed mark. Height 15.5 cm

Len Castle. Inverted Volcano, earthenware vase with red lava…

Inverted Volcano Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle. Inverted Volcano, earthenware vase with red lava glaze to the interior and textured grey exterior, impressed mark. Height 18.5 cm. Length 86 cm

Len Castle. Speciman vase, stoneware with a celedon glaze.…

Celedon Stoneware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle. Speciman vase, stoneware with a celedon glaze. Impressed mark. Height 21 cm

Len Castle, early stoneware vase, with textured glaze,…

Textured Stoneware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, early stoneware vase, with textured glaze, impressed initials. Height 19 cm

Len Castle, stoneware vase, ash and shino type glaze, impressed…

Len Castle Stoneware Vase with Ash and Shino Glaze

Len Castle, stoneware vase, ash and shino type glaze, impressed initials to the base. Height 14 cm, Exhibited in the New Zealand Potters exhibition in Whangarei in 2000.

Len Castle, branch vase, with jun glaze over tenmoku, impressed…

Jun-glazed Branch Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, branch vase, with jun glaze over tenmoku, impressed initials to the base. Height 34 cm. A similar branch vase is illustrated on the cover of Artists and Craftsmen in New Zealand by Peter cape

A Len Castle stoneware cylindrical vase, decorated with incised…

Len Castle Stoneware Vase and Milk Jug Set

A Len Castle stoneware cylindrical vase, decorated with incised concentric bands with olive coloured glaze and umber pigmenting; along with a Castle milk jug with iron speckled ash glaze, impressed artist's mark to each piece. Tallest 18 cm

Len Castle, large stoneware vase, tenmoku over ash glaze with…

Stoneware Vase with Incised Design by Len Castle

Len Castle, large stoneware vase, tenmoku over ash glaze with incised design, impressed mark, height 29 cm

Theo Schoon, an archive of photographs, sketches and…

Schoon & Castle: Collaborative Ceramics Archive

Theo Schoon, an archive of photographs, sketches and correspondence from the collection of Len Castle, consisting of two silver gelatin photographs and 18 loose sheets of graphite and ink working drawings with notes and annotations, the two photographs:…

Len Castle, branch vase, press moulded stoneware vase with…

Jun Glazed Stoneware Branch Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, branch vase, press moulded stoneware vase with poured jun type glaze over tenmoku, impressed initials to the base, height 46 cm

Len Castle, early stoneware vase, impressed initials, height 27…

Early Stoneware Vase by Len Castle, 27cm Height

Len Castle, early stoneware vase, impressed initials, height 27 cm

Len Castle, unusual stoneware conjoined multi aperture vase,…

Conjoined Stoneware Vase with Ash and Kaki Glaze

Len Castle, unusual stoneware conjoined multi aperture vase, ash and kaki glaze, impressed initials, height 20 cm

Len Castle, wood fired stoneware globular vase, impressed…

Wood-fired Stoneware Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, wood fired stoneware globular vase, impressed initials, height 15 cm

Len Castle, stoneware bottle vase, of squat globular form,…

Len Castle Stoneware Bottle Vase, 10cm

Len Castle, stoneware bottle vase, of squat globular form, height 10 cm. Provenance: New Vision Gallery Collection

Len Castle, early stoneware globular vase, impressed initials,…

Len Castle Stoneware Vase from New Vision Gallery Collection

Len Castle, early stoneware globular vase, impressed initials, height 6 cm. Provenance: New Vision Gallery Collection

Len Castle, hanging form bottle vase, with textured umber…

Textured Umber Bottle Vase by Len Castle

Len Castle, hanging form bottle vase, with textured umber pigmented surface, impressed initials, length 44 cm. Provenance: New Vision Gallery Collection