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The Macabre Inventory: 7 Horrifying Items Of Ed Gein's 'Furniture' Made From Human Remains

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The name Ed Gein has become synonymous with the darkest extremes of American true crime, serving as the direct inspiration for cinematic horror icons like Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill.

As of December 23, 2025, the fascination with the "Butcher of Plainfield" has seen a resurgence, driven by new media and a persistent curiosity about the horrific contents of his isolated Wisconsin farmhouse—specifically, the truly macabre "furniture" and household items he crafted from human remains, a shocking police inventory that continues to define the depths of his depravity.

The Complete Biography of Edward Theodore Gein

Edward Theodore Gein, often referred to as the "Plainfield Ghoul," remains one of the most notorious figures in criminal history, despite being linked to a relatively small number of murders compared to later serial killers.

His crimes were not defined by the quantity of his victims, but by the grotesque nature of his actions following their deaths, including grave robbing and the creation of artifacts.

  • Full Name: Edward Theodore Gein
  • Born: August 27, 1906, in La Crosse County, Wisconsin
  • Died: July 26, 1984, at the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wisconsin (age 77)
  • Residence: A 155-acre farm in Plainfield, Wisconsin
  • Known Victims (Murders):
    • Mary Hogan: Tavern owner who disappeared in 1954.
    • Bernice Worden: Hardware store owner who disappeared in 1957.
  • Other Crimes: Gein confessed to robbing graves in local cemeteries to exhume female corpses, which he then mutilated and used to create his collection of objects.
  • Motive: His actions were driven by a desire to create a "sex change suit" and an obsession with his deceased mother, Augusta Gein.
  • Arrest: Arrested on November 16, 1957, following the disappearance of Bernice Worden.

The Disturbing Inventory: Ed Gein's 'Furniture' and Household Items

When police entered Ed Gein's farmhouse in Plainfield, Wisconsin, in 1957, they discovered a scene of unimaginable horror, a house filled with items that blurred the line between household object and human remains. The inventory compiled by authorities details a collection of artifacts so shocking that they became the basis for some of the most enduring horror films in history.

Gein's "furniture" was not merely macabre; it represented a systematic process of grave robbing and desecration, transforming human body parts into functional, everyday objects.

7 Artifacts of the Plainfield Ghoul’s House

The following list details some of the most infamous and horrifying items found in the Gein farmhouse, all crafted from human skin, bone, or other body parts:

  1. Human Skin Lampshades: Perhaps the most iconic and chilling item, Gein created lampshades by carefully stretching human skin over the frame.
  2. Chair Upholstery: In a direct example of his "furniture," Gein used human skin to upholster chairs, effectively turning seating into a gruesome display.
  3. Skull Bowls and Dishware: Police found bowls crafted from human skulls, which Gein reportedly used as common household containers.
  4. A Belt Made of Nipples: A particularly shocking piece of "clothing" in his collection was a belt constructed from human nipples.
  5. Leggings and Corsets: Gein created a grotesque "suit" or collection of clothing, including leggings and a corset, made entirely from human skin. This was part of his attempt to physically transform himself into a woman.
  6. Face Masks: Several masks made from the skin of human faces were found, which Gein reportedly wore around the house.
  7. The Bernice Worden Body: The most immediate piece of evidence was the decapitated body of Bernice Worden, which was discovered hanging upside down in a shed, having been gutted like a deer.

The sheer volume and nature of these items—from the skull-top bedposts to the skin-covered wastebaskets—demonstrated that Gein’s house was not just a crime scene, but a workshop of horror.

The Fate of the House and the Last Surviving Artifact

The question of what happened to Ed Gein's terrifying collection and the house itself is a critical part of the case's legacy, often fueling persistent, though often false, rumors about the artifacts' whereabouts.

The Destruction of the Evidence

Following Gein's arrest and the thorough documentation of the crime scene, the vast majority of the human remains and artifacts were either destroyed or disposed of by authorities. They were used as evidence in the initial investigation but were ultimately deemed too sensitive and macabre for public or long-term storage.

This destruction was partly an attempt to prevent the items from becoming morbid collector's items, a move that only increased the mystique and value of the few pieces that may have survived.

The Plainfield Farmhouse Fire

The physical location of the crimes, the Plainfield farmhouse, was also permanently removed from existence. The house was scheduled to be auctioned off in 1958, but a mysterious fire completely destroyed the structure before the sale could take place.

The fire's cause was never officially determined, but it is widely believed that the local community, horrified by the events and eager to erase the "Butcher of Plainfield's" legacy, intentionally burned the house down.

The One Known Surviving Relic

In the decades since the crimes, a single, verifiable piece of evidence from the Ed Gein case is widely claimed to have survived the destruction.

This artifact is reportedly held and publicly displayed at the Graveface Museum in Savannah, Georgia. The item is often described as a small, non-human skin fragment or a piece of the original crime scene evidence, authenticated by its chain of custody through state investigators and lab workers.

While the full, grotesque "furniture" collection is gone, this single relic serves as a stark, tangible connection to the infamous case, drawing true crime enthusiasts who seek a direct link to the man who inspired a genre of horror.

The enduring fascination with Ed Gein’s artifacts highlights the complex relationship between true crime, trauma, and the macabre curiosity that drives modern media, from documentaries to the latest Netflix series.

The Macabre Inventory: 7 Horrifying Items of Ed Gein's 'Furniture' Made from Human Remains
ed gein furniture
ed gein furniture

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