diff --git a/docs/advanced/pycpp/numpy.rst b/docs/advanced/pycpp/numpy.rst
index d89e4beae..f9d6acbf6 100644
--- a/docs/advanced/pycpp/numpy.rst
+++ b/docs/advanced/pycpp/numpy.rst
@@ -305,3 +305,48 @@ simply using ``vectorize``).
 
     The file :file:`tests/test_numpy_vectorize.cpp` contains a complete
     example that demonstrates using :func:`vectorize` in more detail.
+
+Direct access
+=============
+
+For performance reasons, particularly when dealing with very large arrays, it
+is often desirable to directly access array elements without internal checking
+of dimensions and bounds on every access when indices are known to be already
+valid.  To avoid such checks, the ``array`` class and ``array_t<T>`` template
+class offer an unchecked proxy object that can be used for this unchecked
+access through the ``unchecked<N>`` and ``mutable_unchecked<N>`` methods,
+where ``N`` gives the required dimensionality of the array:
+
+.. code-block:: cpp
+
+    m.def("sum_3d", [](py::array_t<double> x) {
+        auto r = x.unchecked<3>(); // x must have ndim = 3; can be non-writeable
+        double sum = 0;
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < r.shape(0); i++)
+            for (size_t j = 0; j < r.shape(1); j++)
+                for (size_t k = 0; k < r.shape(2); k++)
+                    sum += r(i, j, k);
+        return sum;
+    });
+    m.def("increment_3d", [](py::array_t<double> x) {
+        auto r = x.mutable_unchecked<3>(); // Will throw if ndim != 3 or flags.writeable is false
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < r.shape(0); i++)
+            for (size_t j = 0; j < r.shape(1); j++)
+                for (size_t k = 0; k < r.shape(2); k++)
+                    r(i, j, k) += 1.0;
+    }, py::arg().noconvert());
+
+To obtain the proxy from an ``array`` object, you must specify both the data
+type and number of dimensions as template arguments, such as ``auto r =
+myarray.mutable_unchecked<float, 2>()``.
+
+Note that the returned proxy object directly references the array's data, and
+only reads its shape, strides, and writeable flag when constructed.  You must
+take care to ensure that the referenced array is not destroyed or reshaped for
+the duration of the returned object, typically by limiting the scope of the
+returned instance.
+
+.. seealso::
+
+    The file :file:`tests/test_numpy_array.cpp` contains additional examples
+    demonstrating the use of this feature.
diff --git a/include/pybind11/numpy.h b/include/pybind11/numpy.h
index 0c703b8cc..a5f68cce6 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/numpy.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/numpy.h
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
 static_assert(sizeof(size_t) == sizeof(Py_intptr_t), "size_t != Py_intptr_t");
 
 NAMESPACE_BEGIN(pybind11)
+
+class array; // Forward declaration
+
 NAMESPACE_BEGIN(detail)
 template <typename type, typename SFINAE = void> struct npy_format_descriptor;
 
@@ -232,6 +235,78 @@ template <typename T> using is_pod_struct = all_of<
     satisfies_none_of<T, std::is_reference, std::is_array, is_std_array, std::is_arithmetic, is_complex, std::is_enum>
 >;
 
+template <size_t Dim = 0, typename Strides> size_t byte_offset_unsafe(const Strides &) { return 0; }
+template <size_t Dim = 0, typename Strides, typename... Ix>
+size_t byte_offset_unsafe(const Strides &strides, size_t i, Ix... index) {
+    return i * strides[Dim] + byte_offset_unsafe<Dim + 1>(strides, index...);
+}
+
+/** Proxy class providing unsafe, unchecked const access to array data.  This is constructed through
+ * the `unchecked<T, N>()` method of `array` or the `unchecked<N>()` method of `array_t<T>`.
+ */
+template <typename T, size_t Dims>
+class unchecked_reference {
+protected:
+    const unsigned char *data_;
+    // Storing the shape & strides in local variables (i.e. these arrays) allows the compiler to
+    // make large performance gains on big, nested loops.
+    std::array<size_t, Dims> shape_, strides_;
+
+    friend class pybind11::array;
+    unchecked_reference(const void *data, const size_t *shape, const size_t *strides)
+    : data_{reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char *>(data)} {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < Dims; i++) {
+            shape_[i] = shape[i];
+            strides_[i] = strides[i];
+        }
+    }
+
+public:
+    /** Unchecked const reference access to data at the given indices.  Omiting trailing indices
+     * is equivalent to specifying them as 0.
+     */
+    template <typename... Ix> const T& operator()(Ix... index) const {
+        static_assert(sizeof...(Ix) <= Dims, "Invalid number of indices for unchecked array reference");
+        return *reinterpret_cast<const T *>(data_ + byte_offset_unsafe(strides_, size_t{index}...));
+    }
+    /** Unchecked const reference access to data; this operator only participates if the reference
+     * is to a 1-dimensional array.  When present, this is exactly equivalent to `obj(index)`.
+     */
+    template <size_t D = Dims, typename = enable_if_t<D == 1>>
+    const T &operator[](size_t index) const { return operator()(index); }
+
+    /// Returns the shape (i.e. size) of dimension `dim`
+    size_t shape(size_t dim) const { return shape_[dim]; }
+
+    /// Returns the number of dimensions of the array
+    constexpr static size_t ndim() { return Dims; }
+};
+
+template <typename T, size_t Dims>
+class unchecked_mutable_reference : public unchecked_reference<T, Dims> {
+    friend class pybind11::array;
+    using ConstBase = unchecked_reference<T, Dims>;
+    using ConstBase::ConstBase;
+public:
+    /// Mutable, unchecked access to data at the given indices.
+    template <typename... Ix> T& operator()(Ix... index) {
+        static_assert(sizeof...(Ix) == Dims, "Invalid number of indices for unchecked array reference");
+        return const_cast<T &>(ConstBase::operator()(index...));
+    }
+    /** Mutable, unchecked access data at the given index; this operator only participates if the
+     * reference is to a 1-dimensional array.  When present, this is exactly equivalent to `obj(index)`.
+     */
+    template <size_t D = Dims, typename = enable_if_t<D == 1>>
+    T &operator[](size_t index) { return operator()(index); }
+};
+
+template <typename T, size_t Dim>
+struct type_caster<unchecked_reference<T, Dim>> {
+    static_assert(Dim == (size_t) -1 /* always fail */, "unchecked array proxy object is not castable");
+};
+template <typename T, size_t Dim>
+struct type_caster<unchecked_mutable_reference<T, Dim>> : type_caster<unchecked_reference<T, Dim>> {};
+
 NAMESPACE_END(detail)
 
 class dtype : public object {
@@ -500,6 +575,31 @@ public:
         return offset_at(index...) / itemsize();
     }
 
+    /** Returns a proxy object that provides access to the array's data without bounds or
+     * dimensionality checking.  Will throw if the array is missing the `writeable` flag.  Use with
+     * care: the array must not be destroyed or reshaped for the duration of the returned object,
+     * and the caller must take care not to access invalid dimensions or dimension indices.
+     */
+    template <typename T, size_t Dims> detail::unchecked_mutable_reference<T, Dims> mutable_unchecked() {
+        if (ndim() != Dims)
+            throw std::domain_error("array has incorrect number of dimensions: " + std::to_string(ndim()) +
+                    "; expected " + std::to_string(Dims));
+        return detail::unchecked_mutable_reference<T, Dims>(mutable_data(), shape(), strides());
+    }
+
+    /** Returns a proxy object that provides const access to the array's data without bounds or
+     * dimensionality checking.  Unlike `mutable_unchecked()`, this does not require that the
+     * underlying array have the `writable` flag.  Use with care: the array must not be destroyed or
+     * reshaped for the duration of the returned object, and the caller must take care not to access
+     * invalid dimensions or dimension indices.
+     */
+    template <typename T, size_t Dims> detail::unchecked_reference<T, Dims> unchecked() const {
+        if (ndim() != Dims)
+            throw std::domain_error("array has incorrect number of dimensions: " + std::to_string(ndim()) +
+                    "; expected " + std::to_string(Dims));
+        return detail::unchecked_reference<T, Dims>(data(), shape(), strides());
+    }
+
     /// Return a new view with all of the dimensions of length 1 removed
     array squeeze() {
         auto& api = detail::npy_api::get();
@@ -525,15 +625,9 @@ protected:
 
     template<typename... Ix> size_t byte_offset(Ix... index) const {
         check_dimensions(index...);
-        return byte_offset_unsafe(index...);
+        return detail::byte_offset_unsafe(strides(), size_t{index}...);
     }
 
-    template<size_t dim = 0, typename... Ix> size_t byte_offset_unsafe(size_t i, Ix... index) const {
-        return i * strides()[dim] + byte_offset_unsafe<dim + 1>(index...);
-    }
-
-    template<size_t dim = 0> size_t byte_offset_unsafe() const { return 0; }
-
     void check_writeable() const {
         if (!writeable())
             throw std::domain_error("array is not writeable");
@@ -637,6 +731,25 @@ public:
         return *(static_cast<T*>(array::mutable_data()) + byte_offset(size_t(index)...) / itemsize());
     }
 
+    /** Returns a proxy object that provides access to the array's data without bounds or
+     * dimensionality checking.  Will throw if the array is missing the `writeable` flag.  Use with
+     * care: the array must not be destroyed or reshaped for the duration of the returned object,
+     * and the caller must take care not to access invalid dimensions or dimension indices.
+     */
+    template <size_t Dims> detail::unchecked_mutable_reference<T, Dims> mutable_unchecked() {
+        return array::mutable_unchecked<T, Dims>();
+    }
+
+    /** Returns a proxy object that provides const access to the array's data without bounds or
+     * dimensionality checking.  Unlike `unchecked()`, this does not require that the underlying
+     * array have the `writable` flag.  Use with care: the array must not be destroyed or reshaped
+     * for the duration of the returned object, and the caller must take care not to access invalid
+     * dimensions or dimension indices.
+     */
+    template <size_t Dims> detail::unchecked_reference<T, Dims> unchecked() const {
+        return array::unchecked<T, Dims>();
+    }
+
     /// Ensure that the argument is a NumPy array of the correct dtype (and if not, try to convert
     /// it).  In case of an error, nullptr is returned and the Python error is cleared.
     static array_t ensure(handle h) {
diff --git a/tests/test_numpy_array.cpp b/tests/test_numpy_array.cpp
index 88996443d..461c9c004 100644
--- a/tests/test_numpy_array.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_numpy_array.cpp
@@ -184,4 +184,36 @@ test_initializer numpy_array([](py::module &m) {
     sm.def("issue685", [](std::string) { return "string"; });
     sm.def("issue685", [](py::array) { return "array"; });
     sm.def("issue685", [](py::object) { return "other"; });
+
+    sm.def("proxy_add2", [](py::array_t<double> a, double v) {
+        auto r = a.mutable_unchecked<2>();
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < r.shape(0); i++)
+            for (size_t j = 0; j < r.shape(1); j++)
+                r(i, j) += v;
+    }, py::arg().noconvert(), py::arg());
+    sm.def("proxy_init3", [](double start) {
+        py::array_t<double, py::array::c_style> a({ 3, 3, 3 });
+        auto r = a.mutable_unchecked<3>();
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < r.shape(0); i++)
+        for (size_t j = 0; j < r.shape(1); j++)
+        for (size_t k = 0; k < r.shape(2); k++)
+            r(i, j, k) = start++;
+        return a;
+    });
+    sm.def("proxy_init3F", [](double start) {
+        py::array_t<double, py::array::f_style> a({ 3, 3, 3 });
+        auto r = a.mutable_unchecked<3>();
+        for (size_t k = 0; k < r.shape(2); k++)
+        for (size_t j = 0; j < r.shape(1); j++)
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < r.shape(0); i++)
+            r(i, j, k) = start++;
+        return a;
+    });
+    sm.def("proxy_squared_L2_norm", [](py::array_t<double> a) {
+        auto r = a.unchecked<1>();
+        double sumsq = 0;
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < r.shape(0); i++)
+            sumsq += r[i] * r(i); // Either notation works for a 1D array
+        return sumsq;
+    });
 });
diff --git a/tests/test_numpy_array.py b/tests/test_numpy_array.py
index 7109ff386..9081f8cd0 100644
--- a/tests/test_numpy_array.py
+++ b/tests/test_numpy_array.py
@@ -339,3 +339,23 @@ def test_greedy_string_overload():  # issue 685
     assert issue685("abc") == "string"
     assert issue685(np.array([97, 98, 99], dtype='b')) == "array"
     assert issue685(123) == "other"
+
+
+def test_array_unchecked(msg):
+    from pybind11_tests.array import proxy_add2, proxy_init3F, proxy_init3, proxy_squared_L2_norm
+
+    z1 = np.array([[1, 2], [3, 4]], dtype='float64')
+    proxy_add2(z1, 10)
+    assert np.all(z1 == [[11, 12], [13, 14]])
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as excinfo:
+        proxy_add2(np.array([1., 2, 3]), 5.0)
+    assert msg(excinfo.value) == "array has incorrect number of dimensions: 1; expected 2"
+
+    expect_c = np.ndarray(shape=(3, 3, 3), buffer=np.array(range(3, 30)), dtype='int')
+    assert np.all(proxy_init3(3.0) == expect_c)
+    expect_f = np.transpose(expect_c)
+    assert np.all(proxy_init3F(3.0) == expect_f)
+
+    assert proxy_squared_L2_norm(np.array(range(6))) == 55
+    assert proxy_squared_L2_norm(np.array(range(6), dtype="float64")) == 55