diff --git a/web/src/objects/objects-table.test.tsx b/web/src/objects/objects-table.test.tsx
index 1f3ea6e..0565ab0 100644
--- a/web/src/objects/objects-table.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/objects/objects-table.test.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { beforeEach, expect, test } from "vitest";
 import { screen, waitFor, within } from "@testing-library/react";
 import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
-import { http, HttpResponse } from "msw";
-import { Route, Routes } from "react-router-dom";
+import { delay, http, HttpResponse } from "msw";
+import { Outlet, Route, Routes } from "react-router-dom";
 
 import { server } from "../test/server";
 import { renderApp } from "../test/render";
@@ -24,6 +24,24 @@ function tree() {
   );
 }
 
+function nestedTree() {
+  return (
+    <Routes>
+      <Route
+        path="/objects"
+        element={
+          <>
+            <ObjectsTable />
+            <Outlet />
+          </>
+        }
+      >
+        <Route path=":id" element={<div>detail pane</div>} />
+      </Route>
+    </Routes>
+  );
+}
+
 /** Capture the query string of every objects request so assertions can inspect URL → request flow. */
 function captureRequests() {
   const calls: URLSearchParams[] = [];
@@ -134,3 +152,36 @@ test("clicking a row deep-links to /objects/:id preserving the query string", as
 
   expect(await screen.findByRole("heading", { name: "Amphora" })).toBeInTheDocument();
 });
+
+test("the object number cell is a real link", async () => {
+  renderApp(tree(), { route: "/objects" });
+  expect(await screen.findByRole("link", { name: "LM-0042" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+});
+
+test("the selected row's link is marked aria-current=page", async () => {
+  const first = objectsPage.items[0];
+  renderApp(nestedTree(), { route: `/objects/${first.id}` });
+  const link = await screen.findByRole("link", { name: first.object_number });
+  expect(link).toHaveAttribute("aria-current", "page");
+  const other = await screen.findByRole("link", { name: objectsPage.items[1].object_number });
+  expect(other).not.toHaveAttribute("aria-current");
+});
+
+test("the table is marked aria-busy while loading", async () => {
+  server.use(
+    http.get("/api/admin/objects", async () => {
+      await delay(50);
+      return HttpResponse.json(objectsPage);
+    }),
+  );
+  renderApp(tree(), { route: "/objects" });
+  expect(screen.getByRole("table")).toHaveAttribute("aria-busy", "true");
+  await screen.findByRole("link", { name: "LM-0042" });
+  expect(screen.getByRole("table")).not.toHaveAttribute("aria-busy");
+});
+
+test("a failed objects fetch is announced via role=alert", async () => {
+  server.use(http.get("/api/admin/objects", () => new HttpResponse(null, { status: 500 })));
+  renderApp(tree(), { route: "/objects" });
+  expect(await screen.findByRole("alert")).toHaveTextContent(/could not load/i);
+});
diff --git a/web/src/objects/objects-table.tsx b/web/src/objects/objects-table.tsx
index 619f671..cc67458 100644
--- a/web/src/objects/objects-table.tsx
+++ b/web/src/objects/objects-table.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { ChevronDown, ChevronUp, ChevronsUpDown } from "lucide-react";
 import type { components } from "../api/schema";
 import { useObjectsPage } from "../api/queries";
 import { useDebouncedValue } from "../lib/use-debounced-value";
+import { focusRing } from "../lib/focus-ring";
 import { useConfig } from "../config/config-context";
 import { VisibilityBadge } from "./visibility-badge";
 import { Button, buttonVariants } from "@/components/ui/button";
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ export function ObjectsTable() {
               type="button"
               aria-pressed={active}
               onClick={() => setVisibility(value)}
-              className={`rounded-md px-2 py-1 ${active ? "bg-primary text-primary-foreground" : "border"}`}
+              className={`${focusRing} rounded-md px-2 py-1 ${active ? "bg-primary text-primary-foreground" : "border"}`}
             >
               {value === "all" ? t("search.all") : t(`visibility.${value}`)}
             </button>
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ export function ObjectsTable() {
     body = (
       <tbody>
         <tr>
-          <td colSpan={6} className="px-3 py-6 text-center text-sm text-destructive">
+          <td colSpan={6} role="alert" className="px-3 py-6 text-center text-sm text-destructive">
             {t("objects.loadError")}
           </td>
         </tr>
@@ -246,18 +247,21 @@ export function ObjectsTable() {
           return (
             <tr
               key={object.id}
-              role="link"
-              tabIndex={0}
-              aria-selected={selected}
               onClick={() => navigate(`/objects/${object.id}?${params}`)}
-              onKeyDown={(event) => {
-                if (event.key === "Enter") navigate(`/objects/${object.id}?${params}`);
-              }}
               className={`cursor-pointer border-b text-sm ${
                 selected ? "bg-primary/10" : "hover:bg-muted"
               }`}
             >
-              <td className="px-3 py-2 text-muted-foreground">{object.object_number}</td>
+              <td className="px-3 py-2 text-muted-foreground">
+                <Link
+                  to={`/objects/${object.id}?${params}`}
+                  aria-current={selected ? "page" : undefined}
+                  onClick={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
+                  className={`${focusRing} rounded-sm hover:underline`}
+                >
+                  {object.object_number}
+                </Link>
+              </td>
               <td className="px-3 py-2 font-medium">{object.object_name}</td>
               <td className="px-3 py-2">
                 <VisibilityBadge visibility={object.visibility} />
@@ -276,7 +280,10 @@ export function ObjectsTable() {
     <div className="flex h-full flex-col">
       {toolbar}
       <div className="flex-1 overflow-auto">
-        <table className="w-full border-collapse">
+        <table className="w-full border-collapse" aria-busy={isLoading || undefined}>
+          <caption className="sr-only" aria-live="polite">
+            {isLoading ? t("common.loading") : t("objects.tableLabel")}
+          </caption>
           {columns}
           {body}
         </table>