diff --git a/crates/api/src/admin_objects.rs b/crates/api/src/admin_objects.rs
index 6664dbf..0d665f8 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/admin_objects.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/admin_objects.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use domain::{
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use utoipa::ToSchema;
 
-use crate::{AppState, admin_vocab::LabelInput, pagination::Pagination, reindex};
+use crate::{AppState, admin_vocab::LabelInput, reindex};
 
 /// A localized label `{ lang, label }` (shared across admin views).
 #[derive(Serialize, ToSchema)]
@@ -100,12 +100,73 @@ pub(crate) fn parse_date(s: &str) -> Result<time::Date, StatusCode> {
     time::Date::parse(s, &fmt).map_err(|_| StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY)
 }
 
+/// Query parameters for the object list: pagination plus whitelisted sort/order and
+/// optional visibility/quick-filter. All values are validated/clamped server-side; the
+/// `sort` token maps onto an enum (never a raw column name) before reaching SQL.
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+pub(crate) struct ObjectListParams {
+    pub limit: Option<i64>,
+    pub offset: Option<i64>,
+    pub sort: Option<String>,
+    pub order: Option<String>,
+    pub visibility: Option<String>,
+    pub q: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl ObjectListParams {
+    fn limit(&self) -> i64 {
+        self.limit
+            .unwrap_or(crate::pagination::DEFAULT_LIMIT)
+            .clamp(1, crate::pagination::MAX_LIMIT)
+    }
+
+    fn offset(&self) -> i64 {
+        self.offset.unwrap_or(0).max(0)
+    }
+
+    fn sort(&self) -> db::catalog::ObjectSort {
+        use db::catalog::ObjectSort;
+
+        match self.sort.as_deref() {
+            Some("object_name") => ObjectSort::ObjectName,
+            Some("updated_at") => ObjectSort::UpdatedAt,
+            Some("created_at") => ObjectSort::CreatedAt,
+            Some("visibility") => ObjectSort::Visibility,
+            // Unknown or absent → stable default.
+            _ => ObjectSort::ObjectNumber,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn descending(&self) -> bool {
+        self.order.as_deref() == Some("desc")
+    }
+
+    /// Validate `visibility` against the domain enum; an unknown value is ignored
+    /// (treated as no filter) so hand-edited URLs degrade gracefully instead of 500ing.
+    fn visibility(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        self.visibility
+            .as_deref()
+            .filter(|v| Visibility::from_db(v).is_some())
+    }
+
+    fn q(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        self.q.as_deref().map(str::trim).filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+    }
+}
+
 /// List objects (paginated, all visibility levels). Requires `ViewInternal`.
 #[utoipa::path(
     get, path = "/api/admin/objects",
     params(
         ("limit" = Option<i64>, Query, description = "1..=200, default 50"),
-        ("offset" = Option<i64>, Query, description = "default 0")
+        ("offset" = Option<i64>, Query, description = "default 0"),
+        ("sort" = Option<String>, Query,
+         description = "object_number | object_name | updated_at | created_at | visibility (default object_number)"),
+        ("order" = Option<String>, Query, description = "asc | desc (default asc)"),
+        ("visibility" = Option<String>, Query,
+         description = "draft | internal | public — filter; unknown values ignored"),
+        ("q" = Option<String>, Query,
+         description = "quick filter: ILIKE match on object_number or object_name")
     ),
     responses(
         (status = 200, body = AdminObjectPage),
@@ -116,15 +177,22 @@ pub(crate) fn parse_date(s: &str) -> Result<time::Date, StatusCode> {
 pub(crate) async fn list_objects(
     _auth: Authorized<ViewInternal>,
     State(state): State<AppState>,
-    Query(page): Query<Pagination>,
+    Query(params): Query<ObjectListParams>,
 ) -> Result<Json<AdminObjectPage>, StatusCode> {
-    let (limit, offset) = (page.limit(), page.offset());
+    let (limit, offset) = (params.limit(), params.offset());
 
-    let objects = db::catalog::list_objects_paged(state.db.pool(), limit, offset)
+    let query = db::catalog::ObjectQuery {
+        sort: params.sort(),
+        descending: params.descending(),
+        visibility: params.visibility(),
+        q: params.q(),
+    };
+
+    let objects = db::catalog::list_objects_query(state.db.pool(), &query, limit, offset)
         .await
         .map_err(|_| StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)?;
 
-    let total = db::catalog::count_objects(state.db.pool())
+    let total = db::catalog::count_objects_query(state.db.pool(), query.visibility, query.q)
         .await
         .map_err(|_| StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)?;
 
diff --git a/crates/api/tests/admin_catalog.rs b/crates/api/tests/admin_catalog.rs
index 0c998ae..dc0e589 100644
--- a/crates/api/tests/admin_catalog.rs
+++ b/crates/api/tests/admin_catalog.rs
@@ -877,6 +877,77 @@ async fn listed_object_carries_timestamps(pool: PgPool) {
     assert!(!updated_at.is_empty(), "updated_at must be non-empty");
 }
 
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "../db/migrations")]
+async fn list_objects_sort_filter_quick_search(pool: PgPool) {
+    migrate_sessions(&db::Db::from_pool(pool.clone()))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+    seed_user(&pool, "ed@example.com", "pw-editor-123", Role::Editor).await;
+
+    let app = build_app(state(pool));
+    let cookie = login(&app, "ed@example.com", "pw-editor-123").await;
+
+    let create = |number: &str, name: &str| {
+        format!(
+            r#"{{"object_number":"{number}","object_name":"{name}","number_of_objects":1,"visibility":"draft"}}"#
+        )
+    };
+
+    for (number, name) in [
+        ("FOO-1", "foo apple"),
+        ("FOO-2", "foo banana"),
+        ("BAR-1", "bar cherry"),
+    ] {
+        let resp = send(
+            &app,
+            &cookie,
+            "POST",
+            "/api/admin/objects",
+            Some(&create(number, name)),
+        )
+        .await;
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::CREATED);
+    }
+
+    // No params → default order is object_number ascending.
+    let default = send(&app, &cookie, "GET", "/api/admin/objects", None).await;
+    let body: serde_json::Value =
+        serde_json::from_slice(&default.into_body().collect().await.unwrap().to_bytes()).unwrap();
+    let numbers: Vec<&str> = body["items"]
+        .as_array()
+        .unwrap()
+        .iter()
+        .map(|i| i["object_number"].as_str().unwrap())
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(numbers, ["BAR-1", "FOO-1", "FOO-2"]);
+    assert_eq!(body["total"], 3);
+
+    // sort=object_name&order=desc&visibility=draft&q=foo
+    let filtered = send(
+        &app,
+        &cookie,
+        "GET",
+        "/api/admin/objects?sort=object_name&order=desc&visibility=draft&q=foo",
+        None,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_eq!(filtered.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+
+    let body: serde_json::Value =
+        serde_json::from_slice(&filtered.into_body().collect().await.unwrap().to_bytes()).unwrap();
+
+    let names: Vec<&str> = body["items"]
+        .as_array()
+        .unwrap()
+        .iter()
+        .map(|i| i["object_name"].as_str().unwrap())
+        .collect();
+    // Only the two "foo …" objects, name descending.
+    assert_eq!(names, ["foo banana", "foo apple"]);
+    assert_eq!(body["total"], 2);
+}
+
 #[sqlx::test(migrations = "../db/migrations")]
 async fn field_definition_edit_delete_requires_auth(pool: PgPool) {
     migrate_sessions(&db::Db::from_pool(pool.clone()))
diff --git a/crates/db/src/catalog.rs b/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
index 39739c7..1217a37 100644
--- a/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
+++ b/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
@@ -96,37 +96,121 @@ where
     rows.into_iter().map(map_object).collect()
 }
 
-/// List objects (all visibility levels) ordered by object number, with paging.
-pub async fn list_objects_paged<'e, E>(
-    executor: E,
+/// Whitelisted, injection-safe sort columns for the object list. The client never
+/// supplies a column name directly — the API layer maps an opaque token onto a variant,
+/// and only [`ObjectSort::column`] (returning a `'static str`) reaches the SQL string.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub enum ObjectSort {
+    ObjectNumber,
+    ObjectName,
+    UpdatedAt,
+    CreatedAt,
+    Visibility,
+}
+
+impl ObjectSort {
+    fn column(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            ObjectSort::ObjectNumber => "object_number",
+            ObjectSort::ObjectName => "object_name",
+            ObjectSort::UpdatedAt => "updated_at",
+            ObjectSort::CreatedAt => "created_at",
+            ObjectSort::Visibility => "visibility",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Filters + ordering for a paged object query. `visibility`/`q` are optional;
+/// both are bound as parameters, never interpolated into the SQL string.
+pub struct ObjectQuery<'a> {
+    pub sort: ObjectSort,
+    pub descending: bool,
+    pub visibility: Option<&'a str>,
+    pub q: Option<&'a str>,
+}
+
+/// Build the optional `WHERE` clause and its ordered bind values from the filters.
+/// Each clause references a positional placeholder (`$1`, `$2`, …) matching the order
+/// the returned `binds` are applied; the client's strings only ever arrive as binds.
+fn where_clause(visibility: Option<&str>, q: Option<&str>) -> (String, Vec<String>) {
+    let mut clauses = Vec::new();
+    let mut binds = Vec::new();
+
+    if let Some(v) = visibility {
+        binds.push(v.to_owned());
+
+        clauses.push(format!("visibility = ${}", binds.len()));
+    }
+
+    if let Some(term) = q {
+        binds.push(format!("%{term}%"));
+
+        let p = binds.len();
+
+        clauses.push(format!(
+            "(object_number ILIKE ${p} OR object_name ILIKE ${p})"
+        ));
+    }
+
+    let sql = if clauses.is_empty() {
+        String::new()
+    } else {
+        format!(" WHERE {}", clauses.join(" AND "))
+    };
+
+    (sql, binds)
+}
+
+/// List objects (all visibility levels) with whitelisted sort, optional visibility/quick
+/// filters, and paging. Ordering uses [`ObjectSort::column`] (a `'static str`) plus a
+/// stable secondary key, so no client-controlled string ever reaches the SQL text.
+pub async fn list_objects_query(
+    pool: &sqlx::PgPool,
+    query: &ObjectQuery<'_>,
     limit: i64,
     offset: i64,
-) -> Result<Vec<CatalogueObject>, sqlx::Error>
-where
-    E: sqlx::PgExecutor<'e>,
-{
-    let sql =
-        format!("SELECT {OBJECT_COLUMNS} FROM object ORDER BY object_number LIMIT $1 OFFSET $2");
+) -> Result<Vec<CatalogueObject>, sqlx::Error> {
+    let (where_sql, binds) = where_clause(query.visibility, query.q);
 
-    let rows = sqlx::query(&sql)
-        .bind(limit)
-        .bind(offset)
-        .fetch_all(executor)
-        .await?;
+    let dir = if query.descending { "DESC" } else { "ASC" };
+
+    // Secondary key keeps ordering stable when the primary sort has ties.
+    let sql = format!(
+        "SELECT {OBJECT_COLUMNS} FROM object{where_sql} \
+         ORDER BY {} {dir}, object_number ASC LIMIT ${} OFFSET ${}",
+        query.sort.column(),
+        binds.len() + 1,
+        binds.len() + 2,
+    );
+
+    let mut sql_query = sqlx::query(&sql);
+
+    for bind in &binds {
+        sql_query = sql_query.bind(bind);
+    }
+
+    let rows = sql_query.bind(limit).bind(offset).fetch_all(pool).await?;
 
     rows.into_iter().map(map_object).collect()
 }
 
-/// Count all objects (for pagination totals).
-pub async fn count_objects<'e, E>(executor: E) -> Result<i64, sqlx::Error>
-where
-    E: sqlx::PgExecutor<'e>,
-{
-    let row = sqlx::query("SELECT count(*) AS n FROM object")
-        .fetch_one(executor)
-        .await?;
+/// Count objects matching the optional visibility/quick filters (for pagination totals).
+pub async fn count_objects_query(
+    pool: &sqlx::PgPool,
+    visibility: Option<&str>,
+    q: Option<&str>,
+) -> Result<i64, sqlx::Error> {
+    let (where_sql, binds) = where_clause(visibility, q);
 
-    row.try_get("n")
+    let sql = format!("SELECT count(*) AS n FROM object{where_sql}");
+
+    let mut sql_query = sqlx::query(&sql);
+
+    for bind in &binds {
+        sql_query = sql_query.bind(bind);
+    }
+
+    sql_query.fetch_one(pool).await?.try_get("n")
 }
 
 /// Fetch one **public** object by id. Returns `None` if the object is missing **or**
diff --git a/crates/db/tests/catalog.rs b/crates/db/tests/catalog.rs
index 9cf2ece..6d60f9b 100644
--- a/crates/db/tests/catalog.rs
+++ b/crates/db/tests/catalog.rs
@@ -65,6 +65,142 @@ async fn list_returns_created_objects(pool: PgPool) {
     assert_eq!(all[1].object_number, "LM-2");
 }
 
+fn input(number: &str, name: &str, visibility: Visibility) -> ObjectInput {
+    ObjectInput {
+        object_number: number.into(),
+        object_name: name.into(),
+        number_of_objects: 1,
+        brief_description: None,
+        current_location: None,
+        current_owner: None,
+        recorder: None,
+        recording_date: None,
+        visibility,
+    }
+}
+
+async fn seed(pool: &PgPool, inputs: &[ObjectInput]) {
+    let db = Db::from_pool(pool.clone());
+    let mut tx = db.pool().begin().await.unwrap();
+
+    for it in inputs {
+        catalog::create_object(&mut tx, AuditActor::System, it)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    tx.commit().await.unwrap();
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test]
+async fn query_orders_by_name_descending(pool: PgPool) {
+    let db = Db::from_pool(pool.clone());
+
+    seed(
+        &pool,
+        &[
+            input("LM-1", "alpha", Visibility::Draft),
+            input("LM-2", "gamma", Visibility::Draft),
+            input("LM-3", "beta", Visibility::Draft),
+        ],
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    let query = catalog::ObjectQuery {
+        sort: catalog::ObjectSort::ObjectName,
+        descending: true,
+        visibility: None,
+        q: None,
+    };
+
+    let rows = catalog::list_objects_query(db.pool(), &query, 50, 0)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+    let names: Vec<&str> = rows.iter().map(|o| o.object_name.as_str()).collect();
+    assert_eq!(names, ["gamma", "beta", "alpha"]);
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test]
+async fn query_filters_by_visibility(pool: PgPool) {
+    let db = Db::from_pool(pool.clone());
+
+    seed(
+        &pool,
+        &[
+            input("LM-1", "draft one", Visibility::Draft),
+            input("LM-2", "internal one", Visibility::Internal),
+            input("LM-3", "draft two", Visibility::Draft),
+        ],
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    let query = catalog::ObjectQuery {
+        sort: catalog::ObjectSort::ObjectNumber,
+        descending: false,
+        visibility: Some("draft"),
+        q: None,
+    };
+
+    let rows = catalog::list_objects_query(db.pool(), &query, 50, 0)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+    assert_eq!(rows.len(), 2);
+    assert!(rows.iter().all(|o| o.visibility == Visibility::Draft));
+
+    let total = catalog::count_objects_query(db.pool(), Some("draft"), None)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(total, 2);
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test]
+async fn query_quick_filter_matches_number_or_name(pool: PgPool) {
+    let db = Db::from_pool(pool.clone());
+
+    seed(
+        &pool,
+        &[
+            input("RED-1", "scarlet vase", Visibility::Draft),
+            input("BLU-1", "azure bowl", Visibility::Draft),
+            input("LM-9", "red kettle", Visibility::Internal),
+        ],
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    // Matches the object_number of the first row.
+    let by_number = catalog::ObjectQuery {
+        sort: catalog::ObjectSort::ObjectNumber,
+        descending: false,
+        visibility: None,
+        q: Some("red"),
+    };
+    let rows = catalog::list_objects_query(db.pool(), &by_number, 50, 0)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    // ILIKE: "RED-1" by number and "red kettle" by name.
+    assert_eq!(rows.len(), 2);
+
+    let total = catalog::count_objects_query(db.pool(), None, Some("red"))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(total, 2);
+
+    // A term matching only a name.
+    let by_name = catalog::ObjectQuery {
+        sort: catalog::ObjectSort::ObjectNumber,
+        descending: false,
+        visibility: None,
+        q: Some("azure"),
+    };
+    let rows = catalog::list_objects_query(db.pool(), &by_name, 50, 0)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(rows.len(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(rows[0].object_number, "BLU-1");
+}
+
 #[sqlx::test]
 async fn object_by_id_missing_is_none(pool: PgPool) {
     let db = Db::from_pool(pool);