Gauntlet Gallery
What is D*Face’s piece called “Canis Servo Regina (First Edition)”
Summary
A black-and-white screen print that turns Queen Elizabeth II into a skull-and-crossbones: a grinning death's-head wears a royal tiara and a coiffed Elizabethan hairstyle, a pearl necklace strung beneath it, set against a stylized grey-and-white Union Jack, with a ribbon banner reading "CANIS SERVO REGINA." It is a defining example of D*Face's early skull-and-monarchy satire, fusing pirate iconography with British royal symbolism.
Why It Matters
The print compresses several of D*Face's core targets into one emblem: the cult of the monarchy, national identity, and the death's-head as a memento mori for inherited power. By rendering the Queen as a jolly-roger over a faded Union Jack, he places himself in a lineage of British punk and street provocation that defaces sanctioned imagery rather than inventing new icons. The mock-Latin banner and heraldic ribbon mimic an official coat of arms, sharpening the joke that establishment authority is a skin stretched over bones. It is a clear statement of the irreverent, anti-establishment voice that built D*Face's reputation in the mid-2000s London scene.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 50 from 2006 puts this among the smaller, earlier D*Face runs, well before the larger editions that came with his later commercial visibility. The subject matter is a draw: royal-skull imagery and Union Jack works are perennially sought by collectors of British street art, and a tightly editioned first edition from his formative period carries more weight than a generic motif. The monochrome palette is less immediately decorative than his color pop pieces, which can narrow the buyer pool, but the small edition size and the specific anti-monarchy theme give it standing with focused collectors. Condition and an intact signature/number will materially affect value, as with any paper-based print of this age.
Historical Context
Made in 2006, during D*Face's early street era and around the period he was building StolenSpace gallery in East London, the work sits in a wave of UK street art that mined national and royal imagery for satire. The skull-and-crossbones format borrows directly from the pirate jolly roger and from heraldic crest design, while the coiffed skull and tiara reference the standard portrait iconography of Queen Elizabeth II. The faded Union Jack ties the image to debates over British identity and empire that recur across the period's street and protest art.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A human skull wearing a royal tiara and a Queen Elizabeth II-style hairstyle, set as a skull-and-crossbones over a stylized grey-and-white Union Jack, with a pearl necklace and a banner reading 'CANIS SERVO REGINA.' It satirizes the British monarchy by recasting the Queen as a pirate death's-head.
How large is the edition?
The edition size is 50. This First Edition is among the smaller, earlier D*Face runs.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print, produced in 2006.
Is it signed and numbered?
D*Face limited prints are typically hand-signed and numbered, though this should be confirmed against the specific example before purchase.
Who is D*Face?
D*Face is Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a British street and pop artist known for defacing comic-book, advertising, and celebrity imagery. His motifs include the winged-eyed D*Dog, grinning skulls, and doomed comic-strip lovers, and he co-founded the 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.