diff --git a/dnd_character/equipment.py b/dnd_character/equipment.py
index 610e62f..85aea76 100644
--- a/dnd_character/equipment.py
+++ b/dnd_character/equipment.py
@@ -62,5 +62,12 @@ def __iter__(self):
             yield k, v
 
 
-def Item(index: str) -> _Item:
-    return _Item(**SRD_equipment[index])
+def Item(item: Union[str, dict]) -> _Item:
+    """
+    Create new Item by calling with string (e.g., torch)
+    Deserialize item by calling with a dict
+    """
+    if type(item) == str:
+        return _Item(**SRD_equipment[item])
+    else:
+        return _Item(**item)
diff --git a/dnd_character/monsters.py b/dnd_character/monsters.py
index 945c9f0..363de5e 100644
--- a/dnd_character/monsters.py
+++ b/dnd_character/monsters.py
@@ -57,5 +57,14 @@ def __iter__(self):
             yield k, v
 
 
-def Monster(index: str) -> _Monster:
-    return _Monster(**SRD_monsters[index])
+def Monster(monster: Union[str, dict]) -> _Monster:
+    """
+    Create new Monster by calling with string (e.g., zombie)
+    Deserialize monster by calling with a dict
+    """
+    if type(monster) == str:
+        # new monster
+        return _Monster(**SRD_monsters[monster])
+    else:
+        # deserialized monster
+        return _Monster(**monster)
diff --git a/tests/test_equipment.py b/tests/test_equipment.py
index 9b4fe55..d591908 100644
--- a/tests/test_equipment.py
+++ b/tests/test_equipment.py
@@ -346,3 +346,8 @@ def test_item_serialization(item_name: str, expected_value: dict):
     item = Item(item_name)
     serialized_item = literal_eval(str(dict(item)))
     assert all([serialized_item[k] == v for k, v in expected_value.items()])
+
+
+def test_item_function_deserializes_dict():
+    torch = Item("torch")
+    assert Item(dict(torch)) == torch
diff --git a/tests/test_monsters.py b/tests/test_monsters.py
index ea5a4c7..34b632b 100644
--- a/tests/test_monsters.py
+++ b/tests/test_monsters.py
@@ -79,3 +79,8 @@ def test_zombie_serialization():
     }
     serialized_zombie = dict(zombie)
     assert all([serialized_zombie[k] == v for k, v in expected_zombie.items()])
+
+
+def test_monster_function_deserializes_dict():
+    roper = Monster("roper")
+    assert Monster(dict(roper)) == roper