greek aspis

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Actually the use of many slaves is a point towards high standard and systematic jobs. Surely the 120 slaves weren't the skilled wood-workers and metal-workers that were required for the task. Because indeed the skill required to reproduce-say- the vatican shield is great. It seems more logical that the slaves were used as the "machinery" so that the artist,the shield maker could concentrate on the high tasks (it shoud have also been a matter of status). To me the use of many slaves means professional job,where each one in the workshop knew his place and his specific task that would have wasted the valuable time of the skilled master.
There were of course differences in the qualities of shields. But by definition,a hoplite had to be able to buy his shield. A man with no money for a proper shield couldn't have had the status to fight among the phalanx ranks. This is pretty clear. What was the higher quality shields? Well,Alkibiades had a guilded one,for instance!
Khairete
Giannis