The three sculptures -- “Shiva Nataraja” (Chola period, ca. 990), “Somaskanda” (Chola period, 12th century), and “Saint Sundarar with Paravai” (Vijayanagar period, 16th century) -- are regarded as important examples of South Indian bronze-casting traditions, a media release said. They were originally sacred objects carried in temple processions in Tamil Nadu.