Both figures, as well as three others that can still be found today in Kom, a kingdom in the north of the Cameroon Grasslands, are said to have been carved by King Yu (1865-1912). Yu was not only an important ruler of Kom, but is still regarded as an important artist today. In contrast to the three depictions of kings in the southern grasslands, the statues from Kom, the king with a drinking horn and the queen mother with a planting stick, appear almost classical in their calmness and nudity. However, when looking at these figures, one should not overlook the fact that only the faces covered with copper sheet - an indication of their royal rank - have been preserved in their original state. Like the figures still in Kom today, they were originally covered with fabric, small sections of which still exist, and completely embroidered with glass beads. When the German colonial officer von Putlitz attacked the capital of Kom with an army corps in 1905 and plundered the palace, the king and his entourage fled the palace with all the important paraphernalia and emblems of royalty. These two statues fell into von Putlitz's hands along with several other objects, which were not taken because they were probably no longer in use. This is indicated by the absence of the pearl jewellery and the fact that they were left behind in the palace. / P.J.