Kalēju (Blacksmiths) Street was formed in the 13th century but got its current name in the 17th century. Many blacksmiths settled and opened their workshops on the street hence the street had become known as Blacksmiths Street.

Up until the 17th century Latvian blacksmiths who specialised in making jewellery worked in this building. They had the right to make and sell only their own brooches, rings and pins. A ring-brooch of domed shape ‘Sakta’ (pronounced as /’sɑ:ktɑ:/ in Latvian) was the most popular traditional brooch with the pin, used for fastening garments, typically at the right shoulder. Unlike most modern brooches, Sakta-brooch was not only decorative; it originally served a practical function: to fasten clothing for both men and women, such as dresses and cloaks.

The Charter of the Brotherhood of Latvian Blacksmith-Brooch jewellers was approved on May 29, 1512. They stipulated that a person must learn the craft of a Sakta-brooch for three years, and then work under the guidance of a Maester for another year. Then, in their senior year in the workshop, a principal piece of work had to be developed – a Triple-Sakta – a wide brooch with a ring. If the job was done properly, they were hired as craftsmen. Upon entering the position of a brooch jeweller, one had to pay six Riga marks (currency at the time) for candles, honour the brothers of their craft with a barrel of beer and ham, and also follow the Rules of the Craftsmen.

The occupation of Latvian blacksmiths as brooch jewellers started to cease in the 17th century when it was taken over by the German jewellers. The German jewellers in the subsequent years violated the basic rule of the Brotherhood’s Charter which stipulated that painted glass cannot be inserted into the Latvian silver Sakta-brooch.