Iraqi antique collector turns his house into a museum

Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher holds an old weapon in his museum at home in Najaf, Iraq February 21, 2019. REUTERS/ Alaa al-Marjani

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - There is more than a century of Iraqi history in Sheikh Yousif Akar's house, a modest home in the holy city of Najaf which the retired teacher has crammed full of local antiques collected over 50 years.

Rifles dating back to when the city was run by the Ottomans or the British sit alongside drinking vessels, coins and historic photographs.

The small museum has attracted a few curious antique lovers, but he rarely advertises for visitors as his house is too small to receive guests.

Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher holds an old weapon in his museum at home in Najaf, Iraq February 18, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

The 80-year-old hopes the state will take over the collection when he is gone.

"At the end of my life, I wish they would allocate to a place for me to keep these antiquities ... for Najaf, for Iraq" he said.

Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher looks at the old rare antiques and weapons hanged on the wall in his museum at home in Najaf, Iraq February 18, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

(Writing by Robin Pomeroy; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

General view of the old rare antiques and weapons in the museum of Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher, at his home in Najaf, Iraq February 18, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

Old rare antiques and weapons are seen hanged on the wall in the museum of Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher, at his house in Najaf, Iraq February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

General view of the old rare antiques and weapons in the museum of Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher, at his home in Najaf, Iraq February 18, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher holds an old weapon in his museum at home in Najaf, Iraq February 21, 2019. REUTERS/ Alaa al-Marjani

Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher holds an old weapon in his museum at home in Najaf, Iraq February 18, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

Old rare antiques and weapons are seen hanged on the wall in the museum of Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher, at his house in Najaf, Iraq February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

Youssef Akkar, 80, an Iraqi retired teacher poses for a picture in his museum at home in Najaf, Iraq February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani