5, ALFÂNDEGA STREET
FORMER SOUTH AMERICA GERMAN BANK (DEUTSCH-SÜDAMERIKANISCHE BANK)
NOW BRAZILIAN AUDIOVISUAL INSTITUTE (DARCY RIBEIRO CINEMA SCHOOL)

Unknown author | Mortar bas reliefs | 1914 C.

Positioned in the corners of Alfândega and Primeiro de Março Streets, the main entrance of this building is ornamented with the institution´s acronym – DSB, which stands for Deutsch-Südamerikanische Bank – protected by Mercury and his winged hat (above and below).

At left and at right of the monogram, the artist conceived two watercrafts – a phoenician ship and a passenger ship -, probably alluding to the bank´s intercontinental nature (below).

One can notice possible clues to the artist´s signature amidst the waves produced by the phoenician ship.