Vilnius craftsmen joined associations, established workshops and for this reason were awarded privileges. Guilds were similar to secret societies and only the chosen could become their members. The goldsmiths were the first to create such an association. It was the artisan elite. They worked with gold, silver, and precious stones, so of course their clients were the richest and most influential people in the country.
They supplied palaces and estates with various jewels and utensils, nobles with gilded weapons and armor, churches with cult gear and other splendorous things.
There were a lot of German goldsmiths in Vilnius. When Alexander Jagiellon’s wife Helena of Moscow came to Vilnius, she brought her goldsmith Ignatka with her. Alexander Jagiellon gave the Vilnius Goldsmiths' Guild the privilege of setting apart from their rivals. Non-guild goldsmiths were not allowed to work with gold, but some defied the ban, which caused a lot of conflicts. To enter this prestigious club, a novice had to develop crafting skills for 3 years, and only then he became an apprentice. The candidates had to take exams: they had to make a goblet, a seal with a carved helmet, and a ring with a precious stone. The work was evaluated not only by the elder of the workshop but also by the Magistrate of Vilnius, as a goldsmith promoted into master became a citizen of the city. This guild had its seal, flag, drum and weapons. It was necessary to attend meetings and pray in the chapel, and the defaulters were fined.
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