A toy pirate ship is a small object with an unfair amount of story packed into it. Put one on a table and the table becomes water. Add a map and now there is a destination. Add a figure and suddenly someone is responsible for the terrible plan.
That is why LEGO, Playmobil, and pirate playsets remain so satisfying. They create little systems of adventure. There are places to hide, climb, defend, escape, rebuild, and misunderstand instructions. A child sees play. A collector sees a scene. Both are correct.
Shelf displays work the same way. A small ship beside a flag, book, coin, or map can turn a corner into a miniature harbor. It does not need to be large. It needs a few details that suggest a bigger world just outside the frame.
The best pirate toys leave room for imagination to finish the voyage. That is their real cargo.