diff --git a/src/mudlib/object.py b/src/mudlib/object.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed000c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mudlib/object.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"""Base class for everything in the world."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Object:
+    """Base class for everything in the world.
+
+    Every object has a location (another Object, or None for top-level things
+    like zones). The location pointer is the entire containment system —
+    contents is just the reverse lookup.
+    """
+
+    name: str
+    location: Object | None = None
+    x: int | None = None
+    y: int | None = None
+
+    _contents: list[Object] = field(
+        default_factory=list, init=False, repr=False, compare=False
+    )
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        if self.location is not None:
+            self.location._contents.append(self)
+
+    @property
+    def contents(self) -> list[Object]:
+        """Everything whose location is this object."""
+        return list(self._contents)
+
+    def can_accept(self, obj: Object) -> bool:
+        """Whether this object accepts obj as contents. Default: no."""
+        return False
diff --git a/tests/test_object.py b/tests/test_object.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a19e01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_object.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+"""Tests for the Object base class."""
+
+from mudlib.object import Object
+
+
+def test_object_creation_minimal():
+    """Object can be created with just a name."""
+    obj = Object(name="rock")
+    assert obj.name == "rock"
+    assert obj.location is None
+    assert obj.x is None
+    assert obj.y is None
+
+
+def test_object_creation_with_position():
+    """Object can have spatial coordinates."""
+    obj = Object(name="tree", x=5, y=10)
+    assert obj.x == 5
+    assert obj.y == 10
+
+
+def test_object_creation_with_location():
+    """Object can be placed inside another object."""
+    zone = Object(name="overworld")
+    tree = Object(name="oak", location=zone, x=3, y=7)
+    assert tree.location is zone
+
+
+def test_contents_empty_by_default():
+    """An object with nothing inside has empty contents."""
+    obj = Object(name="empty")
+    assert obj.contents == []
+
+
+def test_contents_tracks_children():
+    """Contents lists objects whose location is self."""
+    zone = Object(name="overworld")
+    tree = Object(name="oak", location=zone, x=3, y=7)
+    rock = Object(name="rock", location=zone, x=1, y=1)
+    assert tree in zone.contents
+    assert rock in zone.contents
+    assert len(zone.contents) == 2
+
+
+def test_contents_nested():
+    """Containment can nest: zone > player > backpack > item."""
+    zone = Object(name="overworld")
+    player = Object(name="jared", location=zone, x=5, y=5)
+    backpack = Object(name="backpack", location=player)
+    gem = Object(name="gem", location=backpack)
+
+    assert player in zone.contents
+    assert backpack in player.contents
+    assert gem in backpack.contents
+    # gem is NOT directly in zone or player
+    assert gem not in zone.contents
+    assert gem not in player.contents
+
+
+def test_can_accept_default_false():
+    """Object.can_accept() returns False by default."""
+    obj = Object(name="rock")
+    other = Object(name="sword")
+    assert obj.can_accept(other) is False
+
+
+def test_contents_returns_copy():
+    """Contents returns a copy, not the internal list."""
+    zone = Object(name="zone")
+    Object(name="thing", location=zone)
+    contents = zone.contents
+    contents.append(Object(name="intruder"))
+    assert len(zone.contents) == 1  # internal list unchanged