Gauntlet Gallery
What is D*Face’s piece called “Her Royal Hideous (First edition)”
Summary
A classic D*Face provocation: a regal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, crown and pearls intact, with the lower half of her face rotted into a grinning skull, set against a tattered Union Jack streaked with flames and a bone-and-skull motif behind. It is one of D*Face's most pointed monarchy pieces from his early street period, fusing his signature death's-head defacement with national iconography.
Why It Matters
The work distills D*Face's core method — taking a sacred, instantly recognisable image of power and corroding it from within. By turning the monarch into a half-decayed skull over a burning Union Jack, he collapses the icons of British identity, deference and empire into a single memento mori, in the irreverent punk lineage of the Sex Pistols' defaced Queen. It sits at the heart of his "deface the famous" project and remains one of his most legible statements on power, mortality and the cult of celebrity that extends even to royalty.
Collector Perspective
With an edition of just 43, this is a genuinely small run by street-art standards, and the subject matter — the Queen rendered as a skull on the Union Jack — gives it broad crossover appeal beyond core D*Face collectors into British pop-culture and political-imagery buyers. As a 2007 "First edition" piece it carries early-era provenance, which the market rewards. Demand is steady for D*Face's skull and royalty motifs, and the low edition size limits supply, though as an early multiple condition and documentation matter; buyers should confirm signature, numbering and the specific medium before paying a premium.
Historical Context
Made in 2007, during D*Face's formative street-and-studio period and around the era he was establishing StolenSpace gallery in East London. The imagery draws directly on the official royal portrait tradition — diadem, pearls, set jaw — and weaponises it against the Union Jack, echoing the anti-establishment graphic language of British punk. The flames and crossed-bone skull behind the figure reinforce the mortality theme, positioning the monarchy as just another fame-and-power myth ripe for defacement.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
Queen Elizabeth II in a formal portrait — wearing a diamond crown and pearls — with the lower half of her face transformed into a grinning skull, set against a flame-streaked Union Jack with a skull-and-crossbones motif behind her.
How large is the edition?
The edition size is 43, making it a small run by street-art standards.
What medium is it?
The exact medium is not documented for this listing; D*Face limited works of this period are commonly screen prints or hand-finished multiples. Confirm the specific process with the seller before purchase.
Is it signed and numbered?
D*Face limited-edition prints are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist, usually in pencil. Verify the signature and number on the actual piece, as it is not separately confirmed here.
Who is D*Face?
D*Face is British street artist Dean Stockton (b.1978, London), a pop-art provocateur known for defacing comic-book, advertising and celebrity imagery with skulls and his winged-eyed 'D*Dog' motif, and co-founder of StolenSpace gallery.
Related Works
About the Artist
D*Face is the working name of Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a leading figure in British street art. He came up pasting stickers and posters across London in the early 2000s, then built a pop-fuelled visual language that defaces comic-book romance, advertising and celebrity iconography. Recurring motifs include his winged-eyed D*Dog, grinning skulls and doomed comic-strip lovers. His practice spans screenprints, hand-painted multiples, sculpture and large-scale murals worldwide, and he co-founded the StolenSpace gallery in London. His work satirises consumerism, power and our collective obsession with fame.
Collecting D*Face at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic D*Face prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of D*Face prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new D*Face prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across D*Face and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.