diff --git a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/MavenEmbedder.java b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/MavenEmbedder.java
index 9b09fd6387..ac00320296 100644
--- a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/MavenEmbedder.java
+++ b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/MavenEmbedder.java
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ import org.apache.maven.artifact.repository.layout.ArtifactRepositoryLayout;
 import org.apache.maven.artifact.resolver.ArtifactResolutionException;
 import org.apache.maven.artifact.resolver.ArtifactNotFoundException;
 import org.apache.maven.artifact.manager.WagonManager;
+import org.apache.maven.artifact.factory.ArtifactFactory;
+import org.apache.maven.artifact.Artifact;
 import org.apache.maven.model.Model;
 import org.apache.maven.model.io.xpp3.MavenXpp3Reader;
 import org.apache.maven.model.io.xpp3.MavenXpp3Writer;
@@ -112,6 +114,8 @@ public class MavenEmbedder
 
     private PluginDescriptorBuilder pluginDescriptorBuilder;
 
+    private ArtifactFactory artifactFactory;
+
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Configuration
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -327,6 +331,20 @@ public class MavenEmbedder
         return projects;
     }
 
+    // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Artifacts
+    // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    public Artifact createArtifact( String groupId, String artifactId, String version, String scope, String type )
+    {
+        return artifactFactory.createArtifact( groupId, artifactId, version, scope, type );
+    }
+
+    public Artifact createArtifactWithClassifier( String groupId, String artifactId, String version, String type, String classifier )
+    {
+        return artifactFactory.createArtifact( groupId, artifactId, version, type, classifier );
+    }
+
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Plugins
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -603,6 +621,8 @@ public class MavenEmbedder
 
             wagonManager = (WagonManager) embedder.lookup( WagonManager.ROLE );
 
+            artifactFactory = (ArtifactFactory) embedder.lookup( ArtifactFactory.ROLE );
+
             // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
             // If an explicit local repository has not been set then we will use the
             // setting builder to use the maven defaults to help us find one.