Not sure if it has to do with the latest patch, but whenever I equip an Ebony shield it's completely invisible in both first- and third-person views. The armor rating still applies and it functions in that you can block and bash with it, but visibly it simply isn't there.

Mine all work and look fine, yours must be annoyed with you for some reason. What was your character wearing and what weapon do you have equipped when it happens? I tried both self enchanted and normal ebony shields, was the shield unique in any way, did it come with an enchantment? What blessings or other variables were there if any?

Your a vampire right? The same thing happens while wearing a Thieves guild hood or Linwe hood while being a vamp.

...wow, srsly? Lame. Oh well, at least that answers my question that there's nothing I can do to fix it. Anyone know if there are any plans on fixing it in future patches?

While I appreciate all the bugfixes to quests and little additions like extra killcams and mounted combat, I can't help but think Bethesda has to know about things like this, and permanent quest items that tend to pile up in your inventory, and wonder if they ever plan to do anything about it.