diff --git a/include/osg/Material b/include/osg/Material
index b2552596e..e3d02b77c 100644
--- a/include/osg/Material
+++ b/include/osg/Material
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ class SG_EXPORT Material : public StateAttribute
             return 0; // passed all the above comparison macro's, must be equal.
         }
 
+        Material& operator = (const Material& rhs);
+
         virtual void getAssociatedModes(std::vector<GLMode>& modes) const 
         {
             // Have to think about the role of _colorMode
diff --git a/src/osg/Material.cpp b/src/osg/Material.cpp
index adc2341cb..906af9b86 100644
--- a/src/osg/Material.cpp
+++ b/src/osg/Material.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,30 @@ Material::~Material()
 {
 }
 
+Material& Material:: operator = (const Material& rhs)
+{
+    if (&rhs==this) return *this;
+    
+    _colorMode= rhs._colorMode;
+    _ambientFrontAndBack= rhs._ambientFrontAndBack;
+    _ambientFront= rhs._ambientFront;
+    _ambientBack= rhs._ambientBack;
+    _diffuseFrontAndBack= rhs._diffuseFrontAndBack;
+    _diffuseFront= rhs._diffuseFront;
+    _diffuseBack= rhs._diffuseBack;
+    _specularFrontAndBack= rhs._specularFrontAndBack;
+    _specularFront= rhs._specularFront;
+    _specularBack= rhs._specularBack;
+    _emissionFrontAndBack= rhs._emissionFrontAndBack;
+    _emissionFront= rhs._emissionFront;
+    _emissionBack= rhs._emissionBack;
+    _shininessFrontAndBack= rhs._shininessFrontAndBack;
+    _shininessFront= rhs._shininessFront;
+    _shininessBack= rhs._shininessBack;
+    
+    return *this;
+}
+
 
 void Material::setAmbient(Face face, const Vec4& ambient )
 {