diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/changes/4037.misc.md b/packages/zarr-metadata/changes/4037.misc.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fee5c69cca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/changes/4037.misc.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Introduces a new `JSONValue` type that models python objects that serialize directly to JSON. This type is used to annotate the contents of `attributes` and `fill_value` fields, replacing the use of the overly wide `object` type. This is technically a breaking change.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/__init__.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/__init__.py
index dc9bc25c63..7c6461500e 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/__init__.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from importlib.metadata import version
 
-from zarr_metadata._common import NamedConfig
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue, NamedConfig
 from zarr_metadata.v2.array import (
     ArrayDimensionSeparatorV2,
     ArrayMetadataV2,
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
     "GroupMetadataV2Partial",
     "GroupMetadataV3",
     "GroupMetadataV3Partial",
+    "JSONValue",
     "MetadataFieldV3",
     "NamedConfig",
     "ZArrayMetadata",
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/_common.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/_common.py
index 9aa643e6d0..f6064d863f 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/_common.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/_common.py
@@ -9,7 +9,19 @@
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 from typing import NotRequired
 
-from typing_extensions import TypedDict
+from typing_extensions import TypeAliasType, TypedDict
+
+JSONValue = TypeAliasType(
+    "JSONValue",
+    "int | float | bool | None | str | list[JSONValue] | tuple[JSONValue, ...] | Mapping[str, JSONValue]",  # type: ignore[reportInvalidTypeForm]
+)
+"""A recursive type alias for JSON-encodable values.
+
+Defined via `TypeAliasType` (rather than a plain `TypeAlias`) so the
+self-reference is a named recursion point that pydantic can resolve when
+building a `TypeAdapter`; a bare recursive `TypeAlias` raises
+`PydanticUserError`/`RecursionError` at validation time.
+"""
 
 
 class NamedConfig(TypedDict):
@@ -17,9 +29,8 @@ class NamedConfig(TypedDict):
     Externally-tagged union member for a metadata field.
 
     The `configuration` mapping holds arbitrary JSON-encodable values;
-    it is typed as `Mapping[str, object]` because the type system cannot
-    express or verify JSON-encodability.
+    it is typed as `Mapping[str, JSONValue]`.
     """
 
     name: str
-    configuration: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    configuration: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/array.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/array.py
index 6673716f6c..999c341dc7 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/array.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/array.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict
 
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
 from zarr_metadata.v2.codec import CodecMetadataV2
 
 DataTypeMetadataV2 = str | tuple[tuple[str, str] | tuple[str, str, tuple[int, ...]], ...]
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ class ZArrayMetadata(TypedDict):
     chunks: tuple[int, ...]
     dtype: DataTypeMetadataV2
     compressor: CodecMetadataV2 | None
-    fill_value: object
+    fill_value: JSONValue
     order: ArrayOrderV2
     filters: tuple[CodecMetadataV2, ...] | None
     dimension_separator: NotRequired[ArrayDimensionSeparatorV2]
@@ -87,11 +88,11 @@ class ArrayMetadataV2(TypedDict):
     chunks: tuple[int, ...]
     dtype: DataTypeMetadataV2
     compressor: CodecMetadataV2 | None
-    fill_value: object
+    fill_value: JSONValue
     order: ArrayOrderV2
     filters: tuple[CodecMetadataV2, ...] | None
     dimension_separator: NotRequired[ArrayDimensionSeparatorV2]
-    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
     """User attributes from the sibling `.zattrs` file (not part of `.zarray`).
 
     See the class docstring for the rationale behind the merged representation.
@@ -128,11 +129,11 @@ class ArrayMetadataV2Partial(TypedDict, total=False):
     chunks: tuple[int, ...]
     dtype: DataTypeMetadataV2
     compressor: CodecMetadataV2 | None
-    fill_value: object
+    fill_value: JSONValue
     order: ArrayOrderV2
     filters: tuple[CodecMetadataV2, ...] | None
     dimension_separator: NotRequired[ArrayDimensionSeparatorV2]
-    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
     """User attributes from the sibling `.zattrs` file (not part of `.zarray`).
 
     See the class docstring for the rationale behind the merged representation.
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/attributes.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/attributes.py
index f260537b80..18b8ded9da 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/attributes.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/attributes.py
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
 
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 
-ZAttrsMetadata = Mapping[str, object]
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
+
+ZAttrsMetadata = Mapping[str, JSONValue]
 """On-disk `.zattrs` file content.
 
 A JSON object holding user-defined attributes for a v2 array or group.
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/codec.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/codec.py
index 5b42432e8c..6d194b7e29 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/codec.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/codec.py
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@
 
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict
 
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
 
-class CodecMetadataV2(TypedDict, extra_items=object):  # type: ignore[call-arg]
+
+class CodecMetadataV2(TypedDict, extra_items=JSONValue):  # type: ignore[call-arg]
     """
     A numcodecs configuration dict, used as a v2 compressor or filter.
 
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/group.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/group.py
index fd14960a0b..5f456fe8d3 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/group.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v2/group.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict
 
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
+
 
 class ZGroupMetadata(TypedDict):
     """
@@ -39,7 +41,7 @@ class GroupMetadataV2(TypedDict):
     """
 
     zarr_format: Literal[2]
-    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
 
 
 class GroupMetadataV2Partial(TypedDict, total=False):
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ class GroupMetadataV2Partial(TypedDict, total=False):
     """
 
     zarr_format: Literal[2]
-    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
 
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/array.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/array.py
index 30bc991f47..d9cea4aef4 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/array.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/array.py
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict
 
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
 from zarr_metadata.v3._common import MetadataFieldV3
 
 
-class ExtensionFieldV3(TypedDict, extra_items=object):  # type: ignore[call-arg]
+class ExtensionFieldV3(TypedDict, extra_items=JSONValue):  # type: ignore[call-arg]
     """
     Required shape of any extension field on a v3 metadata document.
 
@@ -55,9 +56,9 @@ class ArrayMetadataV3(TypedDict, extra_items=ExtensionFieldV3):  # type: ignore[
     shape: tuple[int, ...]
     chunk_grid: MetadataFieldV3
     chunk_key_encoding: MetadataFieldV3
-    fill_value: object
+    fill_value: JSONValue
     codecs: tuple[MetadataFieldV3, ...]
-    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
     storage_transformers: NotRequired[tuple[MetadataFieldV3, ...]]
     dimension_names: NotRequired[tuple[str | None, ...]]
 
@@ -91,9 +92,9 @@ class ArrayMetadataV3Partial(TypedDict, total=False, extra_items=ExtensionFieldV
     shape: tuple[int, ...]
     chunk_grid: MetadataFieldV3
     chunk_key_encoding: MetadataFieldV3
-    fill_value: object
+    fill_value: JSONValue
     codecs: tuple[MetadataFieldV3, ...]
-    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
     storage_transformers: NotRequired[tuple[MetadataFieldV3, ...]]
     dimension_names: NotRequired[tuple[str | None, ...]]
 
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/codec/cast_value.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/codec/cast_value.py
index 17905bf38a..fd6fb2ee4a 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/codec/cast_value.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/codec/cast_value.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict
 
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
 from zarr_metadata.v3._common import MetadataFieldV3
 
 CAST_VALUE_CODEC_NAME: Final = "cast_value"
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@
 OUT_OF_RANGE_MODE: Final = ("clamp", "wrap")
 """Tuple of permitted values for the `out_of_range` field of the `cast_value` codec."""
 
-ScalarMapEntry = tuple[object, object]
+ScalarMapEntry = tuple[JSONValue, JSONValue]
 """A single `[input, output]` mapping in a `scalar_map` direction.
 
 Each scalar is JSON-encoded per its data type's fill-value rules (so
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/codec/scale_offset.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/codec/scale_offset.py
index 32e824ed67..9701db8497 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/codec/scale_offset.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/codec/scale_offset.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict
 
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
+
 SCALE_OFFSET_CODEC_NAME: Final = "scale_offset"
 """The `name` field value of the `scale_offset` codec."""
 
@@ -26,8 +28,8 @@ class ScaleOffsetCodecConfiguration(TypedDict):
     permitted in addition to numbers.
     """
 
-    offset: NotRequired[object]
-    scale: NotRequired[object]
+    offset: NotRequired[JSONValue]
+    scale: NotRequired[JSONValue]
 
 
 class ScaleOffsetCodecObject(TypedDict):
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/data_type/struct.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/data_type/struct.py
index 284ba8e482..282bcc83d6 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/data_type/struct.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/data_type/struct.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 
 from typing_extensions import ReadOnly, TypedDict
 
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
+from zarr_metadata.v3._common import MetadataFieldV3
+
 STRUCT_DATA_TYPE_NAME: Final = "struct"
 """The `name` field value of the `struct` data type."""
 
@@ -30,7 +33,7 @@ class StructField(TypedDict):
     """
 
     name: ReadOnly[str]
-    data_type: ReadOnly[object]
+    data_type: ReadOnly[MetadataFieldV3]
 
 
 class StructConfiguration(TypedDict):
@@ -46,7 +49,7 @@ class Struct(TypedDict):
     configuration: StructConfiguration
 
 
-StructFillValue = Mapping[str, object]
+StructFillValue = Mapping[str, JSONValue]
 """Permitted JSON shape of the `fill_value` field for `struct`.
 
 A JSON object mapping each field name to that field's fill value. Field
diff --git a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/group.py b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/group.py
index e44bf124e3..27186b6059 100644
--- a/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/group.py
+++ b/packages/zarr-metadata/src/zarr_metadata/v3/group.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict
 
+from zarr_metadata._common import JSONValue
 from zarr_metadata.v3.array import ExtensionFieldV3
 
 
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ class GroupMetadataV3(TypedDict, extra_items=ExtensionFieldV3):  # type: ignore[
 
     zarr_format: Literal[3]
     node_type: Literal["group"]
-    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
 
 
 class GroupMetadataV3Partial(TypedDict, total=False, extra_items=ExtensionFieldV3):  # type: ignore[call-arg]
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ class GroupMetadataV3Partial(TypedDict, total=False, extra_items=ExtensionFieldV
 
     zarr_format: Literal[3]
     node_type: Literal["group"]
-    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, object]]
+    attributes: NotRequired[Mapping[str, JSONValue]]
 
 
 __all__ = [