diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/GenericTypeResolver.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/GenericTypeResolver.java
index 865ac36036..5bcfe63c9b 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/GenericTypeResolver.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/GenericTypeResolver.java
@@ -256,10 +256,22 @@ public abstract class GenericTypeResolver {
 	 * @deprecated as of Spring 4.0 in favor of {@link ResolvableType}
 	 */
 	@Deprecated
-	public static Class<?> resolveType(Type genericType, Map<TypeVariable, Type> typeVariableMap) {
-		TypeVariableResolver variableResolver = new TypeVariableMapResolver(typeVariableMap);
-		Class<?> resolved = ResolvableType.forType(genericType, variableResolver).resolve();
-		return (resolved == null ? Object.class : resolved);
+	public static Class<?> resolveType(Type genericType, final Map<TypeVariable, Type> typeVariableMap) {
+
+		ResolvableType.VariableResolver variableResolver = new ResolvableType.VariableResolver() {
+			@Override
+			public ResolvableType resolveVariable(TypeVariable<?> variable) {
+				Type type = typeVariableMap.get(variable);
+				return (type == null ? null : ResolvableType.forType(type));
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public Object getSource() {
+				return typeVariableMap;
+			}
+		};
+
+		return ResolvableType.forType(genericType, variableResolver).resolve(Object.class);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -303,40 +315,4 @@ public abstract class GenericTypeResolver {
 		}
 	}
 
-
-	/**
-	 * Adapts a {@code typeVariableMap} to a {@link TypeVariableResolver}.
-	 */
-	private static class TypeVariableMapResolver implements TypeVariableResolver {
-
-		private final Map<TypeVariable, Type> typeVariableMap;
-
-		public TypeVariableMapResolver(Map<TypeVariable, Type> typeVariableMap) {
-			Assert.notNull("TypeVariableMap must not be null");
-			this.typeVariableMap = typeVariableMap;
-		}
-
-		@Override
-		public Type resolveVariable(TypeVariable typeVariable) {
-			return this.typeVariableMap.get(typeVariable);
-		}
-
-		@Override
-		public boolean equals(Object obj) {
-			if (this == obj) {
-				return true;
-			}
-			if (obj instanceof TypeVariableMapResolver) {
-				TypeVariableMapResolver other = (TypeVariableMapResolver) obj;
-				return this.typeVariableMap.equals(other.typeVariableMap);
-			}
-			return false;
-		}
-
-		@Override
-		public int hashCode() {
-			return this.typeVariableMap.hashCode();
-		}
-	}
-
 }
diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/ResolvableType.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/ResolvableType.java
index 840eafe7a6..d2486b393f 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/ResolvableType.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/ResolvableType.java
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 
 package org.springframework.core;
 
+import java.io.ObjectStreamException;
+import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.lang.reflect.Array;
 import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
 import java.lang.reflect.Field;
@@ -41,9 +43,9 @@ import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
  *
  * <p>{@code ResolvableTypes} may be obtained from {@link #forField(Field) fields},
  * {@link #forMethodParameter(Method, int) method parameters},
- * {@link #forMethodReturnType(Method) method returns}, {@link #forClass(Class) classes}, or
- * directly from a {@link #forType(Type) java.lang.reflect.Type}. Most methods on this class
- * will themselves return {@link ResolvableType}s, allowing easy navigation. For example:
+ * {@link #forMethodReturnType(Method) method returns} or
+ * {@link #forClass(Class) classes}. Most methods on this class will themselves return
+ * {@link ResolvableType}s, allowing easy navigation. For example:
  * <pre class="code">
  * private HashMap&lt;Integer, List&lt;String&gt;&gt; myMap;
  *
@@ -61,7 +63,6 @@ import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
  * @author Phillip Webb
  * @author Juergen Hoeller
  * @since 4.0
- * @see TypeVariableResolver
  * @see #forField(Field)
  * @see #forMethodParameter(Method, int)
  * @see #forMethodReturnType(Method)
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
  * @see #forClass(Class)
  * @see #forType(Type)
  */
-public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
+public final class ResolvableType implements Serializable {
 
 	private static ConcurrentReferenceHashMap<ResolvableType, ResolvableType> cache =
 			new ConcurrentReferenceHashMap<ResolvableType, ResolvableType>();
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * {@code ResolvableType} returned when no value is available. {@code NONE} is used
 	 * in preference to {@code null} so that multiple method calls can be safely chained.
 	 */
-	public static final ResolvableType NONE = new ResolvableType(null, null);
+	public static final ResolvableType NONE = new ResolvableType(null, null, null);
 
 
 	private static final ResolvableType[] EMPTY_TYPES_ARRAY = new ResolvableType[0];
@@ -91,9 +92,9 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	private final Type type;
 
 	/**
-	 * The {@link TypeVariableResolver} to use or {@code null} if no resolver is available.
+	 * The {@link VariableResolver} to use or {@code null} if no resolver is available.
 	 */
-	private final TypeVariableResolver variableResolver;
+	private final VariableResolver variableResolver;
 
 	/**
 	 * Stored copy of the resolved value or {@code null} if the resolve method has not
@@ -101,15 +102,23 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 */
 	private Class<?> resolved;
 
+	/**
+	 * The component type for an array or {@code null} if the type should be deduced.
+	 */
+	private final ResolvableType componentType;
+
+
 
 	/**
 	 * Private constructor used to create a new {@link ResolvableType}.
 	 * @param type the underlying java type (may only be {@code null} for {@link #NONE})
 	 * @param variableResolver the resolver used for {@link TypeVariable}s (may be {@code null})
+	 * @param componentType an option declared component type for arrays (may be {@code null})
 	 */
-	private ResolvableType(Type type, TypeVariableResolver variableResolver) {
+	private ResolvableType(Type type, VariableResolver variableResolver, ResolvableType componentType) {
 		this.type = type;
 		this.variableResolver = variableResolver;
+		this.componentType = componentType;
 	}
 
 
@@ -203,10 +212,12 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 		if (this == NONE) {
 			return NONE;
 		}
+		if (this.componentType != null) {
+			return this.componentType;
+		}
 		if (this.type instanceof Class) {
 			Class<?> componentType = ((Class<?>) this.type).getComponentType();
-			return (componentType == null ? NONE : forType(componentType,
-					this.variableResolver));
+			return forType(componentType, this.variableResolver);
 		}
 		if (this.type instanceof GenericArrayType) {
 			return forType(((GenericArrayType) this.type).getGenericComponentType(),
@@ -272,11 +283,11 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * @see #getInterfaces()
 	 */
 	public ResolvableType getSuperType() {
-		Class<?> resolved = resolve();
+		final Class<?> resolved = resolve();
 		if (resolved == null || resolved.getGenericSuperclass() == null) {
 			return NONE;
 		}
-		return forType(resolved.getGenericSuperclass(), this);
+		return forType(SerializableTypeWrapper.forGenericSuperclass(resolved), asVariableResolver());
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -286,16 +297,11 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * @see #getSuperType()
 	 */
 	public ResolvableType[] getInterfaces() {
-		Class<?> resolved = resolve();
+		final Class<?> resolved = resolve();
 		if (resolved == null || ObjectUtils.isEmpty(resolved.getGenericInterfaces())) {
 			return EMPTY_TYPES_ARRAY;
 		}
-		Type[] interfaceTypes = resolved.getGenericInterfaces();
-		ResolvableType[] interfaces = new ResolvableType[interfaceTypes.length];
-		for (int i = 0; i < interfaceTypes.length; i++) {
-			interfaces[i] = forType(interfaceTypes[i], this);
-		}
-		return interfaces;
+		return forTypes(SerializableTypeWrapper.forGenericInterfaces(resolved), asVariableResolver());
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -407,11 +413,15 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 		if (this == NONE) {
 			return EMPTY_TYPES_ARRAY;
 		}
+		if (this.type instanceof Class<?>) {
+			Class<?> typeClass = (Class<?>) this.type;
+			return forTypes(SerializableTypeWrapper.forTypeParameters(typeClass), this.variableResolver);
+		}
 		if (this.type instanceof ParameterizedType) {
-			Type[] genericTypes = ((ParameterizedType) getType()).getActualTypeArguments();
-			ResolvableType[] generics = new ResolvableType[genericTypes.length];
-			for (int i = 0; i < genericTypes.length; i++) {
-				generics[i] = forType(genericTypes[i], this);
+			Type[] actualTypeArguments = ((ParameterizedType) this.type).getActualTypeArguments();
+			ResolvableType[] generics = new ResolvableType[actualTypeArguments.length];
+			for (int i = 0; i < actualTypeArguments.length; i++) {
+				generics[i] = forType(actualTypeArguments[i], this.variableResolver);
 			}
 			return generics;
 		}
@@ -475,10 +485,8 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 */
 	public Class<?> resolve(Class<?> fallback) {
 		if (this.resolved == null) {
-			synchronized (this) {
-				this.resolved = resolveClass();
-				this.resolved = (this.resolved == null ? void.class : this.resolved);
-			}
+			Class<?> resolvedClass = resolveClass();
+			this.resolved = (resolvedClass == null ? void.class : resolvedClass);
 		}
 		return (this.resolved == void.class ? fallback : this.resolved);
 	}
@@ -495,27 +503,40 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 
 	/**
 	 * Resolve this type by a single level, returning the resolved value or {@link #NONE}.
+	 * NOTE: the returned {@link ResolvableType} should only be used as an intermediary as
+	 * it cannot be serialized.
 	 */
 	ResolvableType resolveType() {
-		Type resolved = null;
+
 		if (this.type instanceof ParameterizedType) {
-			resolved = ((ParameterizedType) this.type).getRawType();
+			return forType(((ParameterizedType) this.type).getRawType(),
+					this.variableResolver);
 		}
-		else if (this.type instanceof WildcardType) {
-			resolved = resolveBounds(((WildcardType) this.type).getUpperBounds());
+
+		if (this.type instanceof WildcardType) {
+			Type resolved = resolveBounds(((WildcardType) this.type).getUpperBounds());
 			if (resolved == null) {
 				resolved = resolveBounds(((WildcardType) this.type).getLowerBounds());
 			}
+			return forType(resolved, this.variableResolver);
 		}
-		else if (this.type instanceof TypeVariable) {
+
+		if (this.type instanceof TypeVariable) {
+			TypeVariable<?> variable = (TypeVariable<?>) this.type;
+
+			// Try default variable resolution
 			if (this.variableResolver != null) {
-				resolved = this.variableResolver.resolveVariable((TypeVariable<?>) this.type);
-			}
-			if (resolved == null) {
-				resolved = resolveBounds(((TypeVariable<?>) this.type).getBounds());
+				ResolvableType resolved = this.variableResolver.resolveVariable(variable);
+				if(resolved != null) {
+					return resolved;
+				}
 			}
+
+			// Fallback to bounds
+			return forType(resolveBounds(variable.getBounds()), this.variableResolver);
 		}
-		return (resolved == null ? NONE : forType(resolved, this.variableResolver));
+
+		return NONE;
 	}
 
 	private Type resolveBounds(Type[] bounds) {
@@ -525,31 +546,35 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 		return bounds[0];
 	}
 
-	public Type resolveVariable(TypeVariable<?> variable) {
-		Assert.notNull("Variable must not be null");
+	private ResolvableType resolveVariable(TypeVariable<?> variable) {
+
+		if (this.type instanceof TypeVariable) {
+			return resolveType().resolveVariable(variable);
+		}
+
 		if (this.type instanceof ParameterizedType) {
+
 			ParameterizedType parameterizedType = (ParameterizedType) this.type;
-			Type owner = parameterizedType.getOwnerType();
 			if (parameterizedType.getRawType().equals(variable.getGenericDeclaration())) {
 				TypeVariable<?>[] variables = resolve().getTypeParameters();
 				for (int i = 0; i < variables.length; i++) {
 					if (ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(variables[i].getName(), variable.getName())) {
-						return parameterizedType.getActualTypeArguments()[i];
+						Type actualType = parameterizedType.getActualTypeArguments()[i];
+						return forType(actualType, this.variableResolver);
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			Type resolved = null;
-			if (this.variableResolver != null) {
-				resolved = this.variableResolver.resolveVariable(variable);
+
+			if (parameterizedType.getOwnerType() != null) {
+				return forType(parameterizedType.getOwnerType(),
+						this.variableResolver).resolveVariable(variable);
 			}
-			if (resolved == null && owner != null) {
-				resolved = forType(owner, this.variableResolver).resolveVariable(variable);
-			}
-			return resolved;
 		}
-		if (this.type instanceof TypeVariable) {
-			return resolveType().resolveVariable(variable);
+
+		if (this.variableResolver != null) {
+			return this.variableResolver.resolveVariable(variable);
 		}
+
 		return null;
 	}
 
@@ -580,17 +605,63 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 		}
 		if (obj instanceof ResolvableType) {
 			ResolvableType other = (ResolvableType) obj;
-			return ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(this.type, other.type) &&
-					ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(this.variableResolver, other.variableResolver);
+			boolean equals = ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(this.type, other.type);
+			equals &= variableResolverSourceEquals(this.variableResolver, other.variableResolver);
+			equals &= ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(this.componentType, other.componentType);
+			return equals;
 		}
 		return false;
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public int hashCode() {
-		return ObjectUtils.nullSafeHashCode(this.type);
+		int hashCode = ObjectUtils.nullSafeHashCode(this.type);
+		hashCode = hashCode * 31 + ObjectUtils.nullSafeHashCode(this.variableResolver);
+		hashCode = hashCode * 31 + ObjectUtils.nullSafeHashCode(this.componentType);
+		return hashCode;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Custom serialization support for {@value #NONE}.
+	 */
+	private Object readResolve() throws ObjectStreamException {
+		return (this.type == null ? NONE : this);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Adapts this {@link ResolvableType} to a {@link VariableResolver}.
+	 */
+	VariableResolver asVariableResolver() {
+		if (this == NONE) {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		return new VariableResolver() {
+			@Override
+			public ResolvableType resolveVariable(TypeVariable<?> variable) {
+				return ResolvableType.this.resolveVariable(variable);
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public Object getSource() {
+				return ResolvableType.this;
+			}
+		};
+	}
+
+	private static boolean variableResolverSourceEquals(VariableResolver o1, VariableResolver o2) {
+		Object s1 = (o1 == null ? null : o1.getSource());
+		Object s2 = (o2 == null ? null : o2.getSource());
+		return ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(s1,s2);
+	}
+
+	private static ResolvableType[] forTypes(Type[] types, VariableResolver owner) {
+		ResolvableType[] result = new ResolvableType[types.length];
+		for (int i = 0; i < types.length; i++) {
+			result[i] = forType(types[i], owner);
+		}
+		return result;
+	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Class}. For example
@@ -598,6 +669,7 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * @param sourceClass the source class (must not be {@code null}
 	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified class
 	 * @see #forClass(Class, Class)
+	 * @see #forClassWithGenerics(Class, Class...)
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forClass(Class<?> sourceClass) {
 		Assert.notNull(sourceClass, "Source class must not be null");
@@ -609,14 +681,15 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * implementation. For example
 	 * {@code ResolvableType.forClass(List.class, MyArrayList.class)}.
 	 * @param sourceClass the source class (must not be {@code null}
-	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class (must not be {@code null})
+	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class
 	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified class backed by the given
 	 * implementation class
 	 * @see #forClass(Class)
+	 * @see #forClassWithGenerics(Class, Class...)
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forClass(Class<?> sourceClass, Class<?> implementationClass) {
 		Assert.notNull(sourceClass, "Source class must not be null");
-		ResolvableType asType = (implementationClass != null ? forType(implementationClass).as(sourceClass) : NONE);
+		ResolvableType asType = forType(implementationClass).as(sourceClass);
 		return (asType == NONE ? forType(sourceClass) : asType);
 	}
 
@@ -628,7 +701,7 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forField(Field field) {
 		Assert.notNull(field, "Field must not be null");
-		return forType(field.getGenericType());
+		return forType(SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(field));
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -637,15 +710,14 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * <p>Use this variant when the class that declares the field includes generic
 	 * parameter variables that are satisfied by the implementation class.
 	 * @param field the source field
-	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class (must not be {@code null})
+	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class
 	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified field
 	 * @see #forField(Field)
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forField(Field field, Class<?> implementationClass) {
 		Assert.notNull(field, "Field must not be null");
-		TypeVariableResolver variableResolver = (implementationClass != null ?
-				forType(implementationClass).as(field.getDeclaringClass()) : null);
-		return forType(field.getGenericType(), variableResolver);
+		ResolvableType owner = forType(implementationClass).as(field.getDeclaringClass());
+		return forType(SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(field), owner.asVariableResolver());
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -658,7 +730,7 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forField(Field field, int nestingLevel) {
 		Assert.notNull(field, "Field must not be null");
-		return forType(field.getGenericType()).getNested(nestingLevel);
+		return forType(SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(field)).getNested(nestingLevel);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -669,15 +741,14 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * @param field the source field
 	 * @param nestingLevel the nesting level (1 for the outer level; 2 for a nested
 	 * generic type; etc)
-	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class (must not be {@code null})
+	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class
 	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified field
 	 * @see #forField(Field)
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forField(Field field, int nestingLevel, Class<?> implementationClass) {
 		Assert.notNull(field, "Field must not be null");
-		TypeVariableResolver variableResolver = (implementationClass != null ?
-				forType(implementationClass).as(field.getDeclaringClass()) : null);
-		return forType(field.getGenericType(), variableResolver).getNested(nestingLevel);
+		ResolvableType owner = forType(implementationClass).as(field.getDeclaringClass());
+		return forType(SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(field), owner.asVariableResolver()).getNested(nestingLevel);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -699,19 +770,45 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * implementation class.
 	 * @param constructor the source constructor (must not be {@code null})
 	 * @param parameterIndex the parameter index
-	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class (must not be {@code null})
+	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class
 	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified constructor parameter
 	 * @see #forConstructorParameter(Constructor, int)
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forConstructorParameter(Constructor<?> constructor, int parameterIndex,
 			Class<?> implementationClass) {
-
 		Assert.notNull(constructor, "Constructor must not be null");
 		MethodParameter methodParameter = new MethodParameter(constructor, parameterIndex);
 		methodParameter.setContainingClass(implementationClass);
 		return forMethodParameter(methodParameter);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Method} return type.
+	 * @param method the source for the method return type
+	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified method return
+	 * @see #forMethodReturnType(Method, Class)
+	 */
+	public static ResolvableType forMethodReturnType(Method method) {
+		Assert.notNull(method, "Method must not be null");
+		return forMethodParameter(MethodParameter.forMethodOrConstructor(method, -1));
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Method} return type.
+	 * Use this variant when the class that declares the method includes generic
+	 * parameter variables that are satisfied by the implementation class.
+	 * @param method the source for the method return type
+	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class
+	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified method return
+	 * @see #forMethodReturnType(Method)
+	 */
+	public static ResolvableType forMethodReturnType(Method method, Class<?> implementationClass) {
+		Assert.notNull(method, "Method must not be null");
+		MethodParameter methodParameter = MethodParameter.forMethodOrConstructor(method, -1);
+		methodParameter.setContainingClass(implementationClass);
+		return forMethodParameter(methodParameter);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Method} parameter.
 	 * @param method the source method (must not be {@code null})
@@ -731,12 +828,13 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 * includes generic parameter variables that are satisfied by the implementation class.
 	 * @param method the source method (must not be {@code null})
 	 * @param parameterIndex the parameter index
-	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class (must not be {@code null})
+	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class
 	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified method parameter
 	 * @see #forMethodParameter(Method, int, Class)
 	 * @see #forMethodParameter(MethodParameter)
 	 */
-	public static ResolvableType forMethodParameter(Method method, int parameterIndex, Class<?> implementationClass) {
+	public static ResolvableType forMethodParameter(Method method, int parameterIndex,
+			Class<?> implementationClass) {
 		Assert.notNull(method, "Method must not be null");
 		MethodParameter methodParameter = new MethodParameter(method, parameterIndex);
 		methodParameter.setContainingClass(implementationClass);
@@ -751,59 +849,119 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forMethodParameter(MethodParameter methodParameter) {
 		Assert.notNull(methodParameter, "MethodParameter must not be null");
-		TypeVariableResolver variableResolver = (methodParameter.getContainingClass() != null ?
-				forType(methodParameter.getContainingClass()).as(methodParameter.getDeclaringClass()) : null);
-		return forType(methodParameter.getGenericParameterType(), variableResolver).getNested(
-				methodParameter.getNestingLevel(), methodParameter.typeIndexesPerLevel);
+		ResolvableType owner = forType(methodParameter.getContainingClass()).as(
+				methodParameter.getDeclaringClass());
+		return forType(SerializableTypeWrapper.forMethodParameter(methodParameter),
+				owner.asVariableResolver()).getNested(methodParameter.getNestingLevel(),
+				methodParameter.typeIndexesPerLevel);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Method} return type.
-	 * @param method the source for the method return type
-	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified method return
-	 * @see #forMethodReturnType(Method, Class)
+	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} as a array of the specified {@code componentType}.
+	 * @param componentType the component type
+	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} as an array of the specified component type
 	 */
-	public static ResolvableType forMethodReturnType(Method method) {
-		Assert.notNull(method, "Method must not be null");
-		return forType(method.getGenericReturnType());
+	public static ResolvableType forArrayComponent(final ResolvableType componentType) {
+		Assert.notNull(componentType, "ComponentType must not be null");
+		Class<?> arrayClass = Array.newInstance(componentType.resolve(), 0).getClass();
+		return new ResolvableType(arrayClass, null, componentType);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Method} return type.
-	 * Use this variant when the class that declares the method includes generic
-	 * parameter variables that are satisfied by the implementation class.
-	 * @param method the source for the method return type
-	 * @param implementationClass the implementation class (must not be {@code null})
-	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified method return
-	 * @see #forMethodReturnType(Method)
+	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Class} with pre-declared
+	 * generics.
+	 * @param sourceClass the source class
+	 * @param generics the generics of the class
+	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specific class and generics
+	 * @see #forClassWithGenerics(Class, ResolvableType...)
 	 */
-	public static ResolvableType forMethodReturnType(Method method, Class<?> implementationClass) {
-		Assert.notNull(method, "Method must not be null");
-		TypeVariableResolver variableResolver = (implementationClass != null ?
-				forType(implementationClass).as(method.getDeclaringClass()) : null);
-		return forType(method.getGenericReturnType(), variableResolver);
+	public static ResolvableType forClassWithGenerics(Class<?> sourceClass,
+			Class<?>... generics) {
+		Assert.notNull(sourceClass, "Source class must not be null");
+		Assert.notNull(generics, "Generics must not be null");
+		ResolvableType[] resolvableGenerics = new ResolvableType[generics.length];
+		for (int i = 0; i < generics.length; i++) {
+			resolvableGenerics[i] = forClass(generics[i]);
+		}
+		return forClassWithGenerics(sourceClass, resolvableGenerics);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link java.lang.reflect.Type}.
-	 * @param type the source type (must not be {@code null})
-	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link java.lang.reflect.Type}
+	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Class} with pre-declared
+	 * generics.
+	 * @param sourceClass the source class
+	 * @param generics the generics of the class
+	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specific class and generics
+	 * @see #forClassWithGenerics(Class, Class...)
+	 */
+	public static ResolvableType forClassWithGenerics(Class<?> sourceClass,
+			final ResolvableType... generics) {
+		Assert.notNull(sourceClass, "Source class must not be null");
+		Assert.notNull(generics, "Generics must not be null");
+		final TypeVariable<?>[] typeVariables = sourceClass.getTypeParameters();
+		Assert.isTrue(typeVariables.length == generics.length,
+				"Missmatched number of generics specified");
+		VariableResolver variableResolver = new VariableResolver() {
+			@Override
+			public ResolvableType resolveVariable(TypeVariable<?> variable) {
+				for (int i = 0; i < typeVariables.length; i++) {
+					if(typeVariables[i].equals(variable)) {
+						return generics[i];
+					}
+				}
+				return null;
+			}
+
+			@Override
+			public Object getSource() {
+				return generics;
+			}
+		};
+
+		return forType(sourceClass, variableResolver);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Type}. NOTE: The resulting
+	 * {@link ResolvableType} may not be {@link Serializable}.
+	 * @param type the source type or {@code null}
+	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Type}
+	 * @see #forType(Type, ResolvableType)
 	 */
 	public static ResolvableType forType(Type type) {
-		return forType(type, null);
+		return forType(type, (VariableResolver) null);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link java.lang.reflect.Type}
-	 * backed by a given {@link TypeVariableResolver}.
-	 * @param type the source type (must not be {@code null})
-	 * @param variableResolver the variable resolver
-	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link java.lang.reflect.Type}
-	 * and {@link TypeVariableResolver}
+	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Type} backed by the
+	 * given owner type. NOTE: The resulting {@link ResolvableType} may not be
+	 * {@link Serializable}.
+	 * @param type the source type or {@code null}
+	 * @param owner the owner type used to resolve variables
+	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Type} and owner
+	 * @see #forType(Type)
 	 */
-	public static ResolvableType forType(Type type, TypeVariableResolver variableResolver) {
-		ResolvableType key = new ResolvableType(type, variableResolver);
+	public static ResolvableType forType(Type type, ResolvableType owner) {
+		VariableResolver variableResolver = null;
+		if (owner != null) {
+			variableResolver = owner.asVariableResolver();
+		}
+		return forType(type, variableResolver);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Type} backed by a given
+	 * {@link VariableResolver}.
+	 * @param type the source type or {@code null}
+	 * @param variableResolver the variable resolver or {@code null}
+	 * @return a {@link ResolvableType} for the specified {@link Type} and {@link VariableResolver}
+	 */
+	static ResolvableType forType(Type type, VariableResolver variableResolver) {
+		if(type == null) {
+			return NONE;
+		}
 		// Check the cache, we may have a ResolvableType that may have already been resolved
+		ResolvableType key = new ResolvableType(type, variableResolver, null);
 		ResolvableType resolvableType = cache.get(key);
 		if (resolvableType == null) {
 			resolvableType = key;
@@ -813,6 +971,26 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 	}
 
 
+	/**
+	 * Strategy interface used to resolve {@link TypeVariable}s.
+	 */
+	static interface VariableResolver extends Serializable {
+
+		/**
+		 * Return the source of the resolver (used for hashCode and equals).
+		 */
+		Object getSource();
+
+		/**
+		 * Resolve the specified varaible.
+		 * @param variable the variable to resolve
+		 * @return the resolved variable or {@code null}
+		 */
+		ResolvableType resolveVariable(TypeVariable<?> variable);
+
+	}
+
+
 	/**
 	 * Internal helper to handle bounds from {@link WildcardType}s.
 	 */
@@ -886,7 +1064,8 @@ public final class ResolvableType implements TypeVariableResolver {
 			Type[] bounds = boundsType == Kind.UPPER ? wildcardType.getUpperBounds() : wildcardType.getLowerBounds();
 			ResolvableType[] resolvableBounds = new ResolvableType[bounds.length];
 			for (int i = 0; i < bounds.length; i++) {
-				resolvableBounds[i] = forType(bounds[i], type.variableResolver);
+				resolvableBounds[i] = ResolvableType.forType(bounds[i],
+						type.variableResolver);
 			}
 			return new WildcardBounds(boundsType, resolvableBounds);
 		}
diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/SerializableTypeWrapper.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/SerializableTypeWrapper.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d20c8c77af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/SerializableTypeWrapper.java
@@ -0,0 +1,330 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2013 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.core;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.ObjectInputStream;
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.lang.reflect.GenericArrayType;
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationHandler;
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
+import java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType;
+import java.lang.reflect.Proxy;
+import java.lang.reflect.Type;
+import java.lang.reflect.TypeVariable;
+import java.lang.reflect.WildcardType;
+
+import org.springframework.util.Assert;
+import org.springframework.util.ReflectionUtils;
+
+/**
+ * Internal utility class that can be used to obtain wrapped {@link Serializable} variants
+ * of {@link java.lang.reflect.Type}s.
+ *
+ * <p>{@link #forField(Field) Fields} or {@link #forMethodParameter(MethodParameter)
+ * MethodParameters} can be used as the root source for a serializable type. Alternatively
+ * the {@link #forGenericSuperclass(Class) superclass},
+ * {@link #forGenericInterfaces(Class) interfaces} or {@link #forTypeParameters(Class)
+ * type parameters} or a regular {@link Class} can also be used as source.
+ *
+ * <p>The returned type will either be a {@link Class} or a serializable proxy of
+ * {@link GenericArrayType}, {@link ParameterizedType}, {@link TypeVariable} or
+ * {@link WildcardType}. With the exception of {@link Class} (which is final) calls to
+ * methods that return further {@link Type}s (for example
+ * {@link GenericArrayType#getGenericComponentType()}) will be automatically wrapped.
+ *
+ * @author Phillip Webb
+ * @since 4.0
+ */
+abstract class SerializableTypeWrapper {
+
+	private static final Class<?>[] SUPPORTED_SERIALAZABLE_TYPES = { GenericArrayType.class,
+		ParameterizedType.class, TypeVariable.class, WildcardType.class };
+
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link Serializable} variant of {@link Field#getGenericType()}.
+	 */
+	public static Type forField(Field field) {
+		Assert.notNull(field, "Field must not be null");
+		return forTypeProvider(new FieldTypeProvider(field));
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link Serializable} variant of
+	 * {@link MethodParameter#getGenericParameterType()}.
+	 */
+	public static Type forMethodParameter(MethodParameter methodParameter) {
+		return forTypeProvider(new MethodParameterTypeProvider(methodParameter));
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link Serializable} variant of {@link Class#getGenericSuperclass()}.
+	 */
+	public static Type forGenericSuperclass(final Class<?> type) {
+		return forTypeProvider(new TypeProvider() {
+			@Override
+			public Type getType() {
+				return type.getGenericSuperclass();
+			}
+		});
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link Serializable} variant of {@link Class#getGenericInterfaces()}.
+	 */
+	public static Type[] forGenericInterfaces(final Class<?> type) {
+		Type[] result = new Type[type.getGenericInterfaces().length];
+		for (int i = 0; i < result.length; i++) {
+			final int index = i;
+			result[i] = forTypeProvider(new TypeProvider() {
+				@Override
+				public Type getType() {
+					return type.getGenericInterfaces()[index];
+				}
+			});
+		}
+		return result;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link Serializable} variant of {@link Class#getTypeParameters()}.
+	 */
+	public static Type[] forTypeParameters(final Class<?> type) {
+		Type[] result = new Type[type.getTypeParameters().length];
+		for (int i = 0; i < result.length; i++) {
+			final int index = i;
+			result[i] = forTypeProvider(new TypeProvider() {
+				@Override
+				public Type getType() {
+					return type.getTypeParameters()[index];
+				}
+			});
+		}
+		return result;
+	}
+
+
+	/**
+	 * Return a {@link Serializable} {@link Type} backed by a {@link TypeProvider} .
+	 */
+	private static Type forTypeProvider(final TypeProvider provider) {
+		Assert.notNull(provider, "Provider must not be null");
+		if (provider.getType() instanceof Serializable || provider.getType() == null) {
+			return provider.getType();
+		}
+		for (Class<?> type : SUPPORTED_SERIALAZABLE_TYPES) {
+			if (type.isAssignableFrom(provider.getType().getClass())) {
+				ClassLoader classLoader = provider.getClass().getClassLoader();
+				Class<?>[] interfaces = new Class<?>[] { type, Serializable.class };
+				InvocationHandler handler = new TypeProxyInvocationHandler(provider);
+				return (Type) Proxy.newProxyInstance(classLoader, interfaces, handler);
+			}
+		}
+		throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unsupported Type class "
+				+ provider.getType().getClass().getName());
+	}
+
+
+	/**
+	 * A {@link Serializable} interface providing access to a {@link Type}.
+	 */
+	private static interface TypeProvider extends Serializable {
+
+		/**
+		 * Return the (possibly non {@link Serializable}) {@link Type}.
+		 */
+		Type getType();
+
+	}
+
+
+	/**
+	 * {@link Serializable} {@link InvocationHandler} used by the Proxied {@link Type}.
+	 * Provides serialization support and enhances any methods that return {@code Type}
+	 * or {@code Type[]}.
+	 */
+	private static class TypeProxyInvocationHandler implements InvocationHandler,
+			Serializable {
+
+		private final TypeProvider provider;
+
+
+		public TypeProxyInvocationHandler(TypeProvider provider) {
+			this.provider = provider;
+		}
+
+
+		@Override
+		public Object invoke(Object proxy, Method method, Object[] args) throws Throwable {
+			if (Type.class.equals(method.getReturnType()) && args == null) {
+				return forTypeProvider(new MethodInvokeTypeProvider(this.provider, method, -1));
+			}
+			if (Type[].class.equals(method.getReturnType()) && args == null) {
+				Type[] result = new Type[((Type[]) method.invoke(this.provider.getType(), args)).length];
+				for (int i = 0; i < result.length; i++) {
+					result[i] = forTypeProvider(new MethodInvokeTypeProvider(this.provider, method, i));
+				}
+				return result;
+			}
+			return method.invoke(this.provider.getType(), args);
+		}
+
+	}
+
+
+
+	/**
+	 * {@link TypeProvider} for {@link Type}s obtained from a {@link Field}.
+	 */
+	private static class FieldTypeProvider implements TypeProvider {
+
+		private final String fieldName;
+
+		private final Class<?> declaringClass;
+
+		private transient Field field;
+
+
+		public FieldTypeProvider(Field field) {
+			this.fieldName = field.getName();
+			this.declaringClass = field.getDeclaringClass();
+			this.field = field;
+		}
+
+
+		@Override
+		public Type getType() {
+			return this.field.getGenericType();
+		}
+
+		private void readObject(ObjectInputStream inputStream) throws IOException,
+				ClassNotFoundException {
+			inputStream.defaultReadObject();
+			try {
+				this.field = this.declaringClass.getDeclaredField(this.fieldName);
+			}
+			catch (Throwable ex) {
+				throw new IllegalStateException(
+						"Could not find original class structure", ex);
+			}
+		}
+
+	}
+
+
+	/**
+	 * {@link TypeProvider} for {@link Type}s obtained from a {@link MethodParameter}.
+	 */
+	private static class MethodParameterTypeProvider implements TypeProvider {
+
+		private final String methodName;
+
+		private final Class<?>[] parameterTypes;
+
+		private final Class<?> declaringClass;
+
+		private final int parameterIndex;
+
+		private transient MethodParameter methodParameter;
+
+
+		public MethodParameterTypeProvider(MethodParameter methodParameter) {
+			if (methodParameter.getMethod() != null) {
+				this.methodName = methodParameter.getMethod().getName();
+				this.parameterTypes = methodParameter.getMethod().getParameterTypes();
+			}
+			else {
+				this.methodName = null;
+				this.parameterTypes = methodParameter.getConstructor().getParameterTypes();
+			}
+			this.declaringClass = methodParameter.getDeclaringClass();
+			this.parameterIndex = methodParameter.getParameterIndex();
+			this.methodParameter = methodParameter;
+		}
+
+
+		@Override
+		public Type getType() {
+			return this.methodParameter.getGenericParameterType();
+		}
+
+		private void readObject(ObjectInputStream inputStream) throws IOException,
+				ClassNotFoundException {
+			inputStream.defaultReadObject();
+			try {
+				if (this.methodName != null) {
+					this.methodParameter = new MethodParameter(
+							this.declaringClass.getDeclaredMethod(this.methodName,
+									this.parameterTypes), this.parameterIndex);
+				}
+				else {
+					this.methodParameter = new MethodParameter(
+							this.declaringClass.getDeclaredConstructor(this.parameterTypes),
+							this.parameterIndex);
+				}
+			}
+			catch (Throwable ex) {
+				throw new IllegalStateException(
+						"Could not find original class structure", ex);
+			}
+		}
+
+	}
+
+
+	/**
+	 * {@link TypeProvider} for {@link Type}s obtained by invoking a no-arg method.
+	 */
+	private static class MethodInvokeTypeProvider implements TypeProvider {
+
+		private final TypeProvider provider;
+
+		private final String methodName;
+
+		private final int index;
+
+		private transient Object result;
+
+
+		public MethodInvokeTypeProvider(TypeProvider provider, Method method, int index) {
+			this.provider = provider;
+			this.methodName = method.getName();
+			this.index = index;
+			this.result = ReflectionUtils.invokeMethod(method, provider.getType());
+		}
+
+
+		@Override
+		public Type getType() {
+			if (this.result instanceof Type || this.result == null) {
+				return (Type) this.result;
+			}
+			return ((Type[])this.result)[this.index];
+		}
+
+		private void readObject(ObjectInputStream inputStream) throws IOException,
+				ClassNotFoundException {
+			inputStream.defaultReadObject();
+			Method method = ReflectionUtils.findMethod(
+					this.provider.getType().getClass(), this.methodName);
+			this.result = ReflectionUtils.invokeMethod(method, this.provider.getType());
+		}
+
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/TypeVariableResolver.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/TypeVariableResolver.java
deleted file mode 100644
index fba6b62ad9..0000000000
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/TypeVariableResolver.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2002-2013 the original author or authors.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-package org.springframework.core;
-
-import java.lang.reflect.Type;
-import java.lang.reflect.TypeVariable;
-
-/**
- * Strategy interface that can be used to resolve {@link java.lang.reflect.TypeVariable}s.
- *
- * @author Phillip Webb
- * @since 4.0
- * @see ResolvableType
- * @see GenericTypeResolver
- */
-interface TypeVariableResolver {
-
-	/**
-	 * Resolve the specified type variable.
-	 * @param typeVariable the type variable to resolve (must not be {@code null})
-	 * @return the resolved {@link java.lang.reflect.Type} for the variable or
-	 * {@code null} if the variable cannot be resolved.
-	 */
-	Type resolveVariable(TypeVariable<?> typeVariable);
-
-}
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/ResolvableTypeTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/ResolvableTypeTests.java
index b33efa9c3b..3d0aa09af8 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/ResolvableTypeTests.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/ResolvableTypeTests.java
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 
 package org.springframework.core;
 
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
+import java.io.ObjectInputStream;
+import java.io.ObjectOutputStream;
 import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
 import java.lang.reflect.Field;
@@ -44,12 +48,14 @@ import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
 import org.mockito.ArgumentCaptor;
 import org.mockito.Captor;
 import org.mockito.runners.MockitoJUnitRunner;
-
+import org.springframework.core.ResolvableType.VariableResolver;
 import org.springframework.util.MultiValueMap;
 
+import static org.mockito.BDDMockito.*;
+
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.*;
 import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
-import static org.mockito.BDDMockito.*;
 
 /**
  * Tests for {@link ResolvableType}.
@@ -86,7 +92,6 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 		assertThat(none.resolve(String.class), equalTo((Class) String.class));
 		assertThat(none.resolveGeneric(0), nullValue());
 		assertThat(none.resolveGenerics().length, equalTo(0));
-		assertThat(none.resolveVariable(mock(TypeVariable.class)), nullValue());
 		assertThat(none.toString(), equalTo("?"));
 		assertThat(none.isAssignableFrom(ResolvableType.forClass(Object.class)), equalTo(false));
 	}
@@ -415,6 +420,13 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 		assertThat(type.getGeneric().getGeneric().getType(), equalTo((Type) String.class));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void genericOfGenericWithAs() throws Exception {
+		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forField(Fields.class.getField("stringListList")).asCollection();
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.Collection<java.util.List<java.lang.String>>"));
+		assertThat(type.getGeneric().asCollection().toString(), equalTo("java.util.Collection<java.lang.String>"));
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void getGenericOfGenericByIndexes() throws Exception {
 		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forField(Fields.class.getField("stringListList"));
@@ -437,13 +449,21 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void getGenerics() throws Exception {
+	public void getGenericsFromParameterizedType() throws Exception {
 		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forClass(List.class, ExtendsList.class);
 		ResolvableType[] generics = type.getGenerics();
 		assertThat(generics.length, equalTo(1));
 		assertThat(generics[0].resolve(), equalTo((Class) CharSequence.class));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void getGenericsFromClass() throws Exception {
+		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forClass(List.class);
+		ResolvableType[] generics = type.getGenerics();
+		assertThat(generics.length, equalTo(1));
+		assertThat(generics[0].getType().toString(), equalTo("E"));
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void noGetGenerics() throws Exception {
 		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forClass(ExtendsList.class);
@@ -549,9 +569,8 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 	public void doesResolveFromOuterOwner() throws Exception {
 		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forField(
 				Fields.class.getField("listOfListOfUnknown")).as(Collection.class);
-		ResolvableType generic = type.getGeneric(0);
-		assertThat(generic.resolve(), equalTo((Class) List.class));
-		assertThat(generic.as(Collection.class).getGeneric(0).as(Collection.class).resolve(), nullValue());
+		assertThat(type.getGeneric(0).resolve(), equalTo((Class) List.class));
+		assertThat(type.getGeneric(0).as(Collection.class).getGeneric(0).as(Collection.class).resolve(), nullValue());
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -721,15 +740,16 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 	public void resolveTypeVariableFromTypeWithVariableResolver() throws Exception {
 		Type sourceType = Methods.class.getMethod("typedReturn").getGenericReturnType();
 		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forType(
-				sourceType, ResolvableType.forClass(TypedMethods.class).as(Methods.class));
+				sourceType, ResolvableType.forClass(TypedMethods.class).as(Methods.class).asVariableResolver());
 		assertThat(type.resolve(), equalTo((Class) String.class));
 		assertThat(type.getType().toString(), equalTo("T"));
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void resolveTypeWithCustomVariableResolver() throws Exception {
-		TypeVariableResolver variableResolver = mock(TypeVariableResolver.class);
-		given(variableResolver.resolveVariable((TypeVariable<?>) anyObject())).willReturn(Long.class);
+		VariableResolver variableResolver = mock(VariableResolver.class);
+		ResolvableType longType = ResolvableType.forClass(Long.class);
+		given(variableResolver.resolveVariable((TypeVariable<?>) anyObject())).willReturn(longType);
 
 		ResolvableType variable = ResolvableType.forType(
 				Fields.class.getField("typeVariableType").getGenericType(), variableResolver);
@@ -747,10 +767,10 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 	public void toStrings() throws Exception {
 		assertThat(ResolvableType.NONE.toString(), equalTo("?"));
 
-		assertFieldToStringValue("classType", "java.util.List");
+		assertFieldToStringValue("classType", "java.util.List<?>");
 		assertFieldToStringValue("typeVariableType", "?");
 		assertFieldToStringValue("parameterizedType", "java.util.List<?>");
-		assertFieldToStringValue("arrayClassType", "java.util.List[]");
+		assertFieldToStringValue("arrayClassType", "java.util.List<?>[]");
 		assertFieldToStringValue("genericArrayType", "java.util.List<java.lang.String>[]");
 		assertFieldToStringValue("genericMultiArrayType", "java.util.List<java.lang.String>[][][]");
 		assertFieldToStringValue("wildcardType", "java.util.List<java.lang.Number>");
@@ -761,7 +781,7 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 		assertFieldToStringValue("stringArrayList", "java.util.List<java.lang.String[]>");
 		assertFieldToStringValue("stringIntegerMultiValueMap", "org.springframework.util.MultiValueMap<java.lang.String, java.lang.Integer>");
 		assertFieldToStringValue("stringIntegerMultiValueMapSwitched", VariableNameSwitch.class.getName() + "<java.lang.Integer, java.lang.String>");
-		assertFieldToStringValue("listOfListOfUnknown", "java.util.List<java.util.List>");
+		assertFieldToStringValue("listOfListOfUnknown", "java.util.List<java.util.List<?>>");
 
 		assertTypedFieldToStringValue("typeVariableType", "java.lang.String");
 		assertTypedFieldToStringValue("parameterizedType", "java.util.List<java.lang.String>");
@@ -789,6 +809,17 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 		assertThat(type.resolve(), equalTo((Type) Integer.class));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void resolveFromClassWithGenerics() throws Exception {
+		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forClassWithGenerics(List.class, ResolvableType.forClassWithGenerics(List.class, String.class));
+		assertThat(type.asCollection().toString(), equalTo("java.util.Collection<java.util.List<java.lang.String>>"));
+		assertThat(type.asCollection().getGeneric().toString(), equalTo("java.util.List<java.lang.String>"));
+		assertThat(type.asCollection().getGeneric().asCollection().toString(), equalTo("java.util.Collection<java.lang.String>"));
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.List<java.util.List<java.lang.String>>"));
+		assertThat(type.asCollection().getGeneric().getGeneric().resolve(), equalTo((Type) String.class));
+	}
+
+
 	@Test
 	public void isAssignableFromMustNotBeNull() throws Exception {
 		this.thrown.expect(IllegalArgumentException.class);
@@ -997,7 +1028,7 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 	public void hashCodeAndEquals() throws Exception {
 		ResolvableType forClass = ResolvableType.forClass(List.class);
 		ResolvableType forFieldDirect = ResolvableType.forField(Fields.class.getDeclaredField("stringList"));
-		ResolvableType forFieldViaType = ResolvableType.forType(Fields.class.getDeclaredField("stringList").getGenericType());
+		ResolvableType forFieldViaType = ResolvableType.forType(Fields.class.getDeclaredField("stringList").getGenericType(), (VariableResolver) null);
 		ResolvableType forFieldWithImplementation = ResolvableType.forField(Fields.class.getDeclaredField("stringList"), TypedFields.class);
 
 		assertThat(forClass, equalTo(forClass));
@@ -1024,6 +1055,60 @@ public class ResolvableTypeTests {
 		assertThat(t.resolveGeneric(1, 0), equalTo((Class) String.class));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void forClassWithGenerics() throws Exception {
+		ResolvableType elementType = ResolvableType.forClassWithGenerics(Map.class, Integer.class, String.class);
+		ResolvableType listType = ResolvableType.forClassWithGenerics(List.class, elementType);
+		assertThat(listType.toString(), equalTo("java.util.List<java.util.Map<java.lang.Integer, java.lang.String>>"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void classWithGenericsAs() throws Exception {
+		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forClassWithGenerics(MultiValueMap.class, Integer.class, String.class);
+		assertThat(type.asMap().toString(), equalTo("java.util.Map<java.lang.Integer, java.util.List<java.lang.String>>"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void forClassWithMismatchedGenerics() throws Exception {
+		thrown.expect(IllegalArgumentException.class);
+		thrown.expectMessage("Missmatched number of generics specified");
+		ResolvableType.forClassWithGenerics(Map.class, Integer.class);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void forArrayComponent() throws Exception {
+		ResolvableType elementType = ResolvableType.forField(Fields.class.getField("stringList"));
+		ResolvableType type = ResolvableType.forArrayComponent(elementType);
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.List<java.lang.String>[]"));
+		assertThat(type.resolve(), equalTo((Class) List[].class));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void serialize() throws Exception {
+		testSerialization(ResolvableType.forClass(List.class));
+		testSerialization(ResolvableType.forField(Fields.class.getField("charSequenceList")));
+		testSerialization(ResolvableType.forMethodParameter(Methods.class.getMethod("charSequenceParameter", List.class), 0));
+		testSerialization(ResolvableType.forMethodReturnType(Methods.class.getMethod("charSequenceReturn")));
+		testSerialization(ResolvableType.forConstructorParameter(Constructors.class.getConstructor(List.class), 0));
+		testSerialization(ResolvableType.forField(Fields.class.getField("charSequenceList")).getGeneric());
+		testSerialization(ResolvableType.forField(Fields.class.getField("charSequenceList")).asCollection());
+		testSerialization(ResolvableType.forClass(ExtendsMap.class).getSuperType());
+		ResolvableType deserializedNone = testSerialization(ResolvableType.NONE);
+		assertThat(deserializedNone, sameInstance(ResolvableType.NONE));
+	}
+
+	private ResolvableType testSerialization(ResolvableType type) throws Exception {
+		ByteArrayOutputStream bos = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
+		ObjectOutputStream oos = new ObjectOutputStream(bos);
+		oos.writeObject(type);
+		oos.close();
+		ObjectInputStream ois = new ObjectInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(bos.toByteArray()));
+		ResolvableType read = (ResolvableType) ois.readObject();
+		assertThat(read, equalTo(type));
+		assertThat(read.getType(), equalTo(type.getType()));
+		assertThat(read.resolve(), equalTo((Class) type.resolve()));
+		return read;
+	}
 
 	private static AssertAssignbleMatcher assertAssignable(final ResolvableType type,
 			final ResolvableType... fromTypes) {
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/SerializableTypeWrapperTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/SerializableTypeWrapperTests.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..530cc5e8a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/SerializableTypeWrapperTests.java
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2013 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.core;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
+import java.io.ObjectInputStream;
+import java.io.ObjectOutputStream;
+import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
+import java.lang.reflect.GenericArrayType;
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
+import java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType;
+import java.lang.reflect.Type;
+import java.lang.reflect.TypeVariable;
+import java.lang.reflect.WildcardType;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+
+
+/**
+ * Tests for {@link SerializableTypeWrapper}.
+ *
+ * @author Phillip Webb
+ */
+public class SerializableTypeWrapperTests {
+
+	@Test
+	public void forField() throws Exception {
+		Type type = SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(Fields.class.getField("parameterizedType"));
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.List<java.lang.String>"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void forMethodParameter() throws Exception {
+		Method method = Methods.class.getDeclaredMethod("method", Class.class, Object.class);
+		Type type = SerializableTypeWrapper.forMethodParameter(MethodParameter.forMethodOrConstructor(method, 0));
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.lang.Class<T>"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void forConstructor() throws Exception {
+		Constructor<?> constructor = Constructors.class.getDeclaredConstructor(List.class);
+		Type type = SerializableTypeWrapper.forMethodParameter(MethodParameter.forMethodOrConstructor(constructor, 0));
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.List<java.lang.String>"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void forGenericSuperClass() throws Exception {
+		Type type = SerializableTypeWrapper.forGenericSuperclass(ArrayList.class);
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.AbstractList<E>"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void forGenericInterfaces() throws Exception {
+		Type type = SerializableTypeWrapper.forGenericInterfaces(List.class)[0];
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.Collection<E>"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void forTypeParamters() throws Exception {
+		Type type = SerializableTypeWrapper.forTypeParameters(List.class)[0];
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("E"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void classType() throws Exception {
+		Type type = SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(Fields.class.getField("classType"));
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("class java.lang.String"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void genericArrayType() throws Exception {
+		GenericArrayType type = (GenericArrayType) SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(Fields.class.getField("genericArrayType"));
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.List<java.lang.String>[]"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+		assertSerialzable(type.getGenericComponentType());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void parameterizedType() throws Exception {
+		ParameterizedType type = (ParameterizedType) SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(Fields.class.getField("parameterizedType"));
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("java.util.List<java.lang.String>"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+		assertSerialzable(type.getOwnerType());
+		assertSerialzable(type.getRawType());
+		assertSerialzable(type.getActualTypeArguments());
+		assertSerialzable(type.getActualTypeArguments()[0]);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void typeVariableType() throws Exception {
+		TypeVariable<?> type = (TypeVariable<?>) SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(Fields.class.getField("typeVariableType"));
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("T"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+		assertSerialzable(type.getBounds());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void wildcardType() throws Exception {
+		ParameterizedType typeSource = (ParameterizedType) SerializableTypeWrapper.forField(Fields.class.getField("wildcardType"));
+		WildcardType type = (WildcardType) typeSource.getActualTypeArguments()[0];
+		assertThat(type.toString(), equalTo("? extends java.lang.CharSequence"));
+		assertSerialzable(type);
+		assertSerialzable(type.getLowerBounds());
+		assertSerialzable(type.getUpperBounds());
+	}
+
+
+	private void assertSerialzable(Object source) throws Exception {
+		ByteArrayOutputStream bos = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
+		ObjectOutputStream oos = new ObjectOutputStream(bos);
+		oos.writeObject(source);
+		oos.close();
+		ObjectInputStream ois = new ObjectInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(bos.toByteArray()));
+		assertThat(ois.readObject(), equalTo(source));
+	}
+
+
+	static class Fields<T> {
+
+		public String classType;
+
+		public List<String>[] genericArrayType;
+
+		public List<String> parameterizedType;
+
+		public T typeVariableType;
+
+		public List<? extends CharSequence> wildcardType;
+
+	}
+
+	static interface Methods {
+
+		<T> List<T> method(Class<T> p1, T p2);
+
+	}
+
+	static class Constructors {
+
+		public Constructors(List<String> p) {
+		}
+
+	}
+}