Take a look at the collection of 11,000 antique toys at New York City’s oldest museum

I know Christmas is this beautiful, spiritual time of the year about peace and love, but even as a grown man, I relish the material culture: the giant trees, the ornate window displays, the toys.

I spoke with curator Mike Thornton about why toys belong not just in the glass boxes of private collectors but the archives of museums. Thornton explains how the quality of toys reflected the countries producing them, and how the toys themselves portrayed the lifestyles of their era.

These days, toys get a bad rap, perceived by jaded adults as frivolous objects for children. But like more accepted forms of art, toys have the capacity to capture the spirit from the time of their creation.

If you live in New York City or plan to take a trip soon, the holidays can continue past December. “Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection” will be on display at the New York Historical Society until February 22, 2015.