Gauntlet Gallery — D*Face Print Index
What Wars Are For
Summary
"What Wars Are For" (WW4), also known as "Fool's Gold," is a 2007 silkscreen from Stolen Space in a signed edition of 75. Printed on gold paper at 100 x 70 cm, its metallic ground amplifies the ironic, greed-and-conflict theme. It is one of D*Face's more overtly anti-war statements from the period.
Why It Matters
The gold-paper substrate is the conceptual hinge: it literalises the "Fool's Gold" nickname and ties warfare to profit. As a Stolen Space release, it also documents D*Face's relationship with the East London gallery he co-founded, giving the print institutional significance beyond its imagery.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 75 keeps this relatively scarce, and the gold paper is the defining feature collectors should inspect, as metallic stocks show scuffs, fingerprints and light damage readily. Its dual identity as "WW4" and "Fool's Gold" means catalogue cross-referencing matters when sourcing. Signed, well-preserved examples on unmarked gold stock are the goal.
Historical Context
Stolen Space Gallery, co-founded by D*Face on Brick Lane, became a hub for the urban-contemporary movement from 2005 onward. This 2007 print reflects the mid-2000s wave of protest-inflected street art responding to ongoing conflicts. The gold-leaf-adjacent aesthetic connects to a broader trend of luxury materials used ironically in the genre.
FAQ
Why is it called 'Fool's Gold'?
The print is silkscreened on gold paper, and the nickname underscores its ironic linkage of war to greed and false riches.
What is 'WW4'?
WW4 is the work's alternate title, short for the full name "What Wars Are For."
Who published it?
Stolen Space, the East London gallery D*Face co-founded, in a signed edition of 75.
About the Artist
D*Face is the working name of Dean Stockton (born 1978, London), a British street artist and a leading figure in the UK urban-contemporary scene. Drawing on comic books, pop art, skate graphics, and consumer iconography, he developed a signature cast of characters — winged "D*Dog" motifs, skull-faced pin-ups, and subverted Americana — rendered in bold, Lichtenstein-indebted lines. From stickers and street work in the early 2000s, he built a substantial studio practice of paintings, sculpture, and signed prints, founded the StolenSpace Gallery in London, and has collaborated widely across music and fashion.
Collecting D*Face at Gauntlet Gallery
Which D*Face works should I collect?
His signed, numbered screenprints — especially hand-finished and low-edition works — are the collectible core, prized for bold pop imagery. Look for clean condition and the artist's signature. Gauntlet Gallery prioritizes complete, well-documented impressions.
How is a D*Face piece authenticated?
We sell his works with documented provenance and the edition's signature and numbering. Each piece is photographed as-is, including signature and edition details, so you can verify before purchase.
What drives value?
Edition size, hand-embellishment, iconic imagery, condition, and provenance all shape value. Low-numbered, hand-finished, and larger works command the strongest premiums.