diff --git a/include/osg/Object b/include/osg/Object
index 546636c72..bdc100770 100644
--- a/include/osg/Object
+++ b/include/osg/Object
@@ -36,6 +36,20 @@ class State;
         virtual const char* libraryName() const { return #library; }\
         virtual const char* className() const { return #name; }
 
+template<typename T>
+T* clone(const T* t, const osg::CopyOp& copyop=osg::CopyOp::SHALLOW_COPY)
+{
+    return dynamic_cast<T*>(t->clone(copyop)); 
+}
+
+
+template<typename T>
+T* clone(const T* t, const std::string& name, const osg::CopyOp& copyop=osg::CopyOp::SHALLOW_COPY)
+{
+    T* newObject = dynamic_cast<T*>(t->clone(copyop)); 
+    newObject->setName(name);
+    return newObject;
+}
 
 /** Base class/standard interface for objects which require IO support, 
     cloning and reference counting.