Len Castle
Encyclopedia
Leonard Ramsay "Len" Castle, DCNZM
, CBE
(23 December 1924 – 1 October 2011) was a renowned New Zealand
potter
.
Born in Auckland
in 1924, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1946 from University of Auckland
and trained as a secondary school teacher, eventually taking a lecturing position at the Auckland College of Education. Self-taught, Castle began making his first pottery
in 1947. In 1956 he moved to St Ives, Cornwall
for a year to work with Bernard Leach
and became a full-time potter in 1963. The same year he helped establish the New Zealand Society of Potters.
In the early 1960s he had an architecturally designed house built in the bush of the Waitakere Ranges
at 20 Tawini Road, Titirangi
, with a kiln and rail system out the back, and a low basement which allowed pottery to be exhibited. Turning room for tour buses was provided in the street outside. The Boyes family which bought the house demolished the kiln; however, the bricks from it form the paving round the lower part of the house, and shards from discarded pottery works can still be found amongst the clay soil of the bush behind.
In the early 1950s Len Castle met Theo Schoon
and Schoon decorated the surfaces of pots thrown and fired by Castle. In 1960's Schoon introduced him to the geothermal areas of the central North Island of New Zealand. Castle has continued to photograph this landscape area, and is reflected in his pottery.
Castle studied pottery in Japan
, Korea
and China
in 1966-7. He names Shoji Hamada
as one of his influences. He built a new house in South Titirangi with a larger kiln and even more extensive railway to serve it in 1972-3, which is still operating. In 1989, along with a number of other New Zealand ceramic and glass artists, he was commissioned to supply work for the New Zealand pavilion at the World Expo at Seville
in 1991. This work is now in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
.
In 1986, he received a CBE
for services to pottery. He was awarded the New Zealand Commemorative Medal
in 1990 for services to the country. In 2004 he was awarded DCNZM
. He was declared an Icon of New Zealand Art in 2003. "Len Castle: Potter" won a Montana Book Award for non fiction in 2003.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(23 December 1924 – 1 October 2011) was a renowned New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
potter
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
.
Born in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in 1924, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1946 from University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
and trained as a secondary school teacher, eventually taking a lecturing position at the Auckland College of Education. Self-taught, Castle began making his first pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
in 1947. In 1956 he moved to St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
for a year to work with Bernard Leach
Bernard Leach
Bernard Howell Leach, CBE, CH , was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery"-Biography:...
and became a full-time potter in 1963. The same year he helped establish the New Zealand Society of Potters.
In the early 1960s he had an architecturally designed house built in the bush of the Waitakere Ranges
Waitakere Ranges
The Waitakere Ranges are a chain of hills in the Auckland metropolitan area, generally running approximately 25 km from north to south, 25 km west of central Auckland, New Zealand. The maximum elevation within the ranges is 474 m...
at 20 Tawini Road, Titirangi
Titirangi
Titirangi is a suburb in the Waitakere Ward of the city of Auckland in northern New Zealand. It is an affluent, residential suburb located 13 kilometres to the southwest of the Auckland city centre, at the southern end of the Waitakere Ranges...
, with a kiln and rail system out the back, and a low basement which allowed pottery to be exhibited. Turning room for tour buses was provided in the street outside. The Boyes family which bought the house demolished the kiln; however, the bricks from it form the paving round the lower part of the house, and shards from discarded pottery works can still be found amongst the clay soil of the bush behind.
In the early 1950s Len Castle met Theo Schoon
Theodorus Johannes Schoon
Theodorus Johannes Schoon was an artist, photographer and carver.-Life:Theo Schoon was born at Kebumen, Java in the East Indies, the son of Dutch parents, Johannes Theodorus Schoon and his wife, Barbara Isabella Maria Steegemans. Theo lived in Java with his parents and brother before being sent to...
and Schoon decorated the surfaces of pots thrown and fired by Castle. In 1960's Schoon introduced him to the geothermal areas of the central North Island of New Zealand. Castle has continued to photograph this landscape area, and is reflected in his pottery.
Castle studied pottery in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1966-7. He names Shoji Hamada
Shoji Hamada
was a Japanese potter. He was a significant influence on studio pottery of the twentieth century, and a major figure of the mingei folk-art movement, establishing the town of Mashiko as a world-renowned pottery centre.- Biography :...
as one of his influences. He built a new house in South Titirangi with a larger kiln and even more extensive railway to serve it in 1972-3, which is still operating. In 1989, along with a number of other New Zealand ceramic and glass artists, he was commissioned to supply work for the New Zealand pavilion at the World Expo at Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
in 1991. This work is now in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
.
In 1986, he received a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to pottery. He was awarded the New Zealand Commemorative Medal
New Zealand Honours Order of Precedence
- Order of Precedence :Order of precedence for the wearing of decorations and awards within New Zealand's honours system.Medals in bold are distinctly New Zealand awards.-Special awards:* Victoria Cross for New Zealand VC* George Cross GC...
in 1990 for services to the country. In 2004 he was awarded DCNZM
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
. He was declared an Icon of New Zealand Art in 2003. "Len Castle: Potter" won a Montana Book Award for non fiction in 2003.