diff --git a/docs/src/index.md b/docs/src/index.md
index 07f6c64..85248b4 100644
--- a/docs/src/index.md
+++ b/docs/src/index.md
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ Legolas.read
 
 ```@docs
 Legolas.lift
+Legolas.construct
 Legolas.assign_to_table_metadata!
 Legolas.gather
 Legolas.locations
diff --git a/src/Legolas.jl b/src/Legolas.jl
index 15b0125..76381ec 100644
--- a/src/Legolas.jl
+++ b/src/Legolas.jl
@@ -2,27 +2,11 @@ module Legolas
 
 using Tables, Arrow
 
-"""
-    lift(f, x)
 
-Return `f(x)` unless `x isa Union{Nothing,Missing}`, in which case return `missing`.
-
-This is particularly useful when handling values from `Arrow.Table`, whose null values
-may present as either `missing` or `nothing` depending on how the table itself was
-originally constructed.
-"""
-lift(::Any, ::Union{Nothing,Missing}) = missing
-lift(f, x) = f(x)
-
-"""
-    lift(f)
-
-Returns a curried function, `x -> lift(f,x)`
-"""
-lift(f) = Base.Fix1(lift, f)
 
 const LEGOLAS_SCHEMA_QUALIFIED_METADATA_KEY = "legolas_schema_qualified"
 
+include("lift.jl")
 include("rows.jl")
 include("tables.jl")
 
diff --git a/src/lift.jl b/src/lift.jl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5b7676
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lift.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+"""
+    lift(f, x)
+
+Return `f(x)` unless `x isa Union{Nothing,Missing}`, in which case return `missing`.
+
+This is particularly useful when handling values from `Arrow.Table`, whose null values
+may present as either `missing` or `nothing` depending on how the table itself was
+originally constructed.
+
+See also: [`construct`](@ref)
+"""
+lift(f, x) = f(x)
+lift(::Any, ::Union{Nothing,Missing}) = missing
+
+"""
+    lift(f)
+
+Returns a curried function, `x -> lift(f,x)`
+"""
+lift(f) = Base.Fix1(lift, f)
+
+
+"""
+    construct(T::Type, x)
+
+Construct `T(x)` unless `x` is of type `T`, in which case return `x` itself. Useful in
+conjunction with the [`lift`](@ref) function for types which don't have a constructor which
+accepts instances of itself (e.g. `T(::T)`).
+
+## Examples
+
+```jldoctest
+julia> using Legolas: construct
+
+julia> construct(Float64, 1)
+1.0
+
+julia> Some(Some(1))
+Some(Some(1))
+
+julia> construct(Some, Some(1))
+Some(1)
+```
+
+Use the curried form when using `lift`:
+
+```jldoctest
+julia> using Legolas: lift, construct
+
+julia> lift(Some, Some(1))
+Some(Some(1))
+
+julia> lift(construct(Some), Some(1))
+Some(1)
+```
+"""
+construct(T::Type, x) = T(x)
+construct(::Type{T}, x::T) where {T} = x
+construct(T::Type) = Base.Fix1(construct, T)
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index 75ca032..7d8ae1c 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -8,9 +8,36 @@ include(joinpath(dirname(@__DIR__), "examples", "tour.jl"))
     @test ismissing(Legolas.lift(sin, nothing))
     @test ismissing(Legolas.lift(sin, missing))
     @test Legolas.lift(sin, 1.0) == sin(1.0)
+    @test Legolas.lift(Some, Some(1)) == Some(Some(1))
+
     @test ismissing(Legolas.lift(sin)(nothing))
     @test ismissing(Legolas.lift(sin)(missing))
     @test Legolas.lift(sin)(1.0) == sin(1.0)
+    @test Legolas.lift(Some)(Some(1)) == Some(Some(1))
+end
+
+@testset "Legolas.construct" begin
+    @test Legolas.construct(Int, 0x00) === 0
+    @test Legolas.construct(Some, Some(1)) === Some(1)
+
+    @test Legolas.construct(Int)(0x00) === 0
+    @test Legolas.construct(Some)(Some(1)) === Some(1)
+
+    # Restrict `construct` to types only
+    @test_throws MethodError Legolas.construct(sin, 1.0)
+    @test_throws MethodError Legolas.construct(sin)
+
+    @testset "undefined identity constructor" begin
+        mutable struct PR45
+            x::Int
+        end
+        Foo = PR45  # Alias to unique struct name
+
+        x = Foo(1)
+        @test x !== Foo(1)
+        @test_throws MethodError Foo(x)  # Type does not define an identity constructor
+        @test Legolas.construct(Foo, x) === x
+    end
 end
 
 @testset "Legolas.location" begin