"Ghost Adventures" star Zak Bagans just scored a disgusting and evil souvenir used by the real life killer who became the inspiration for "Psycho" and a bunch of other Hollywood serial killers.

Ed Gein was a Wisconsin man who infamously mutilated his victim's body parts in the 1950s, and fashioned their skin into tiny masks, gloves, and furniture. If it sounds familiar -- Leatherface from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" ... Buffalo Bill from "The Silence of the Lambs" and Norman Bates were all based on Gein.

So, Bagans just dropped $2,800 at auction to take possession of the 25 gallon cauldron Gein used to discard his victims' entrails when he gutted them. The thing had been sitting in a Wisconsin woman's home -- used as a flower pot -- ever since Gein's 1984 death in prison.

When she died ... her son (wisely) believed the cauldron was cursed, and wanted it gone ... so now it's Bagans' headache.

Zak, who collects haunted and cursed objects, tells us it's going on display at his home, because he thinks it will "make a nice conversation piece for guests."

See also

'Ghost Adventures' Star -- Selling Haunted Las Vegas Lair ... Exorcism NOT Included

'Ghost Adventures' Star -- I Bought $35,000 Demon House ... Possible 'Portal to Hell'

Famous Haunted House -- Girl Exorcised After Demonic Invasion

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