diff --git a/library/LuaApi.cpp b/library/LuaApi.cpp
index fcd7353ea..aebe8e5c1 100644
--- a/library/LuaApi.cpp
+++ b/library/LuaApi.cpp
@@ -1465,6 +1465,20 @@ static df::proj_itemst *items_makeProjectile(df::item *item)
     return Items::makeProjectile(mc, item);
 }
 
+static int16_t items_findType(std::string token)
+{
+    DFHack::ItemTypeInfo result;
+    result.find(token);
+    return result.type;
+}
+
+static int32_t items_findSubtype(std::string token)
+{
+    DFHack::ItemTypeInfo result;
+    result.find(token);
+    return result.subtype;
+}
+
 static const LuaWrapper::FunctionReg dfhack_items_module[] = {
     WRAPM(Items, getGeneralRef),
     WRAPM(Items, getSpecificRef),
@@ -1486,6 +1500,8 @@ static const LuaWrapper::FunctionReg dfhack_items_module[] = {
     WRAPN(moveToInventory, items_moveToInventory),
     WRAPN(makeProjectile, items_makeProjectile),
     WRAPN(remove, items_remove),
+    WRAPN(findType, items_findType),
+    WRAPN(findSubtype, items_findSubtype),
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
diff --git a/scripts/modtools/create-item.lua b/scripts/modtools/create-item.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f0a9c8cc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/modtools/create-item.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+--create-item.lua
+--author expwnent
+--creates an item of a given type and material
+
+local utils = require 'utils'
+
+validArgs = --[[validArgs or]] utils.invert({
+ 'help',
+ 'creator',
+ 'material',
+ 'item',
+ 'creature',
+ 'caste',
+ 'matchingGloves',
+ 'matchingShoes'
+})
+
+local args = utils.processArgs({...}, validArgs)
+
+if args.help then
+ --TODO: help string
+ return
+end
+
+if not args.creator or not tonumber(args.creator) or not df.unit.find(tonumber(args.creator)) then
+ error 'Invalid creator.'
+end
+args.creator = df.unit.find(tonumber(args.creator))
+if not args.creator then
+ error 'Invalid creator.'
+end
+
+if not args.item then
+ error 'Invalid item.'
+end
+local itemType = dfhack.items.findType(args.item)
+local itemSubtype = dfhack.items.findSubtype(args.item)
+if itemType == -1 then
+ error 'Invalid item.'
+end
+
+organicTypes = organicTypes or utils.invert({
+ df.item_type.REMAINS,
+ df.item_type.FISH,
+ df.item_type.FISH_RAW,
+ df.item_type.VERMIN,
+ df.item_type.PET,
+ df.item_type.EGG,
+})
+
+if organicTypes[itemType] then
+ --TODO: look up creature and caste
+ error 'Not yet supported.'
+end
+
+badTypes = badTypes or utils.invert({
+ df.item_type.CORPSE,
+ df.item_type.CORPSEPIECE,
+ df.item_type.FOOD,
+})
+
+if badTypes[itemType] then
+ error 'Not supported.'
+end
+
+if not args.material then
+ error 'Invalid material.'
+end
+args.material = dfhack.matinfo.find(args.material)
+if not args.material then
+ error 'Invalid material.'
+end
+
+local item1 = dfhack.items.createItem(itemType, itemSubtype, args.material['type'], args.material.index, args.creator)
+if args.matchingGloves or args.matchingShoes then
+ if args.matchingGloves then
+  item1 = df.item.find(item1)
+  item1:setGloveHandedness(1);
+ end
+ local item2 = dfhack.items.createItem(itemType, itemSubtype, args.material['type'], args.material.index, args.creator)
+ if args.matchingGloves then
+  item2 = df.item.find(item2)
+  item2:setGloveHandedness(2);
+ end
+end
+