The earliest Pallava metal sculptures can be traced back to almost the 7th century B.C. Most of the bronze sculptures of the Pallavas were built in the 250 years from 600 AD to 850 AD. The Pallavas also developed the Saivite iconography. They were staunch Saivites, who worshipped Vishnu also and dedicated various forms of Siva in the temple complex.

The bronze sculptures built by the early Pallavas were very small in size. Most of them they were less than one foot high and the figures were natural in pose and moulding. The faces of these sculptures were slightly taller and broad with a flat nose and double chin. The front of the torso of these sculptures was almost flat and the emblems were as a rule either held naturally in the hand or placed just above them.

The kirita or headdress of these bronze sculptures is usually cylindrical, the hara or necklace is rather simple in shape and their number is not more than one or two. There is no trace of the metal images of the early phase of the Pallava period as at that time the rituals were very simple. After the 8th century, the bronze started appearing from time to time. Few of the bronze sculptures of this period include the Vishnu as Srinivasa from Peruntottam in the Mayavaram region of Tanjavur district. This would have been a fine specimen from the artistic point of view if it were dissociated from of its heavy drapery and ornaments. This bronze sculpture of Vishnu is said to be the earliest of the bronzes of the Pallava period. The recent study of Vishnu forms discloses him with four hands, the upper left carrying a conch (sankha) and the right carrying the chakra (discus) while the lower right in the abhaya (protection) form and left resting on the hip. He is represented with two spouses; one being Sridevi (Goddess of prosperity), identified as Lakshmi, and the other is Bhudevi (Earth Goddess). Both these goddesses are shown standing on the right and left sides of Vishnu, each having a pair of arms, while one carries the flower, the other hangs freely. The Devis are shown wearing the prominent elbow ornaments of like the simple conch and striped lower garment. The discus of Srinivasa, the girdle of Srinivasa, the padmas (lotuses) of the deities with naturalistically rendered petals and the characteristic modelling of Srinivasa with a majestic torso with somewhat proportionate legs as well as the slender and beautiful rendering of the Devis identify these sculptures belonging to the Pallava period.

The Bronze sculptures of the Pallavas have rounded and chubby face with distinct features, fleshy nose, almond-like eyes, naturalistic eyebrows and tender lips with a smile. The Vishnu sculpture, now situated in the Indian museum, Kolkata belongs to a slightly later period and it is supposed to hail from the Mayavaram region. Some other bronze sculptures of the Pallava period include the standing Vishnu (9.5 cms tall) from Valududaiyur, hamlet in Adikudi in Tiruchirapalli district and the gold-plated Maithreya from Melayur in Tanjavur district 39.5 cms in height. All the details of these sculptures represent the characteristic style of this period. The Pallava bronzes belong mainly to the Mayavaram region and are mostly Vishnu images except for the Maithreya, but the latter has very many points in correspondence with the former.