diff --git a/swh/model/model.py b/swh/model/model.py
--- a/swh/model/model.py
+++ b/swh/model/model.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     normalize_timestamp, directory_identifier, revision_identifier,
     release_identifier, snapshot_identifier
 )
-from .hashutil import DEFAULT_ALGORITHMS, hash_to_bytes
+from .hashutil import DEFAULT_ALGORITHMS, hash_to_bytes, MultiHash
 
 
 class MissingData(Exception):
@@ -396,6 +396,23 @@
             del content['ctime']
         return content
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_data(cls,
+                  data: bytes,
+                  status='visible',
+                  reason=''):
+        """Build a content object from bytes"""
+        d = MultiHash.from_data(data).digest()
+
+        if status == 'absent':
+            d['reason'] = reason
+        else:
+            d['data'] = data
+
+        d['length'] = len(data)
+        d['status'] = status
+        return cls.from_dict(d)
+
     @classmethod
     def from_dict(cls, d, use_subclass=True):
         if use_subclass:
@@ -503,6 +520,10 @@
             del content['origin']
         return content
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_data(cls, data: bytes, status='absent', reason=''):
+        return super().from_data(data, status=status, reason=reason)
+
     @classmethod
     def from_dict(cls, d):
         d2 = d
diff --git a/swh/model/tests/test_model.py b/swh/model/tests/test_model.py
--- a/swh/model/tests/test_model.py
+++ b/swh/model/tests/test_model.py
@@ -7,14 +7,15 @@
 import datetime
 
 from hypothesis import given
+from hypothesis.strategies import binary
 import pytest
 
 from swh.model.model import (
-    Content, Directory, Revision, Release, Snapshot,
+    Content, SkippedContent, Directory, Revision, Release, Snapshot,
     Timestamp, TimestampWithTimezone,
     MissingData,
 )
-from swh.model.hashutil import hash_to_bytes
+from swh.model.hashutil import hash_to_bytes, MultiHash
 from swh.model.hypothesis_strategies import objects, origins, origin_visits
 from swh.model.identifiers import (
     directory_identifier, revision_identifier, release_identifier,
@@ -137,6 +138,36 @@
         c.with_data()
 
 
+@given(binary(max_size=4096))
+def test_content_from_data(data):
+    c = Content.from_data(data)
+    assert c.data == data
+    assert c.length == len(data)
+    assert c.status == 'visible'
+    for key, value in MultiHash.from_data(data).digest().items():
+        assert getattr(c, key) == value
+
+
+@given(binary(max_size=4096))
+def test_hidden_content_from_data(data):
+    c = Content.from_data(data, status='hidden')
+    assert c.data == data
+    assert c.length == len(data)
+    assert c.status == 'hidden'
+    for key, value in MultiHash.from_data(data).digest().items():
+        assert getattr(c, key) == value
+
+
+@given(binary(max_size=4096))
+def test_skipped_content_from_data(data):
+    c = SkippedContent.from_data(data, reason='reason')
+    assert c.reason == 'reason'
+    assert c.length == len(data)
+    assert c.status == 'absent'
+    for key, value in MultiHash.from_data(data).digest().items():
+        assert getattr(c, key) == value
+
+
 def test_directory_model_id_computation():
     dir_dict = dict(directory_example)
     del dir_dict['id']