diff --git a/IPython/core/formatters.py b/IPython/core/formatters.py
index 01a8637..371ff05 100644
--- a/IPython/core/formatters.py
+++ b/IPython/core/formatters.py
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ from IPython.lib import pretty
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import (
     Bool, Dict, Integer, Unicode, CUnicode, ObjectName, List,
 )
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import unicode_to_str, with_metaclass, PY3
+from IPython.utils.py3compat import (
+    unicode_to_str, with_metaclass, PY3, string_types,
+)
 
 if PY3:
     from io import StringIO
@@ -46,7 +48,6 @@ else:
 # The main DisplayFormatter class
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-
 class DisplayFormatter(Configurable):
 
     # When set to true only the default plain text formatter will be used.
@@ -206,6 +207,22 @@ class FormatterABC(with_metaclass(abc.ABCMeta, object)):
             return None
 
 
+def _mod_name_key(typ):
+    """Return a (__module__, __name__) tuple for a type.
+    
+    Used as key in Formatter.deferred_printers.
+    """
+    module = getattr(typ, '__module__', None)
+    name = getattr(typ, '__name__', None)
+    return (module, name)
+
+
+def _get_type(obj):
+    """Return the type of an instance (old and new-style)"""
+    return getattr(obj, '__class__', None) or type(obj)
+
+_raise_key_error = object()
+
 class BaseFormatter(Configurable):
     """A base formatter class that is configurable.
 
@@ -240,74 +257,142 @@ class BaseFormatter(Configurable):
     # The singleton printers.
     # Maps the IDs of the builtin singleton objects to the format functions.
     singleton_printers = Dict(config=True)
-    def _singleton_printers_default(self):
-        return {}
 
     # The type-specific printers.
     # Map type objects to the format functions.
     type_printers = Dict(config=True)
-    def _type_printers_default(self):
-        return {}
 
     # The deferred-import type-specific printers.
     # Map (modulename, classname) pairs to the format functions.
     deferred_printers = Dict(config=True)
-    def _deferred_printers_default(self):
-        return {}
 
     def __call__(self, obj):
         """Compute the format for an object."""
         if self.enabled:
-            obj_id = id(obj)
             try:
-                obj_class = getattr(obj, '__class__', None) or type(obj)
-                # First try to find registered singleton printers for the type.
+                # lookup registered printer
                 try:
-                    printer = self.singleton_printers[obj_id]
-                except (TypeError, KeyError):
+                    printer = self.lookup(obj)
+                except KeyError:
                     pass
                 else:
                     return printer(obj)
-                # Next look for type_printers.
-                for cls in pretty._get_mro(obj_class):
-                    if cls in self.type_printers:
-                        return self.type_printers[cls](obj)
-                    else:
-                        printer = self._in_deferred_types(cls)
-                        if printer is not None:
-                            return printer(obj)
-                # Finally look for special method names.
-                if hasattr(obj_class, self.print_method):
-                    printer = getattr(obj_class, self.print_method)
-                    return printer(obj)
+                # Finally look for special method names
+                method = pretty._safe_getattr(obj, self.print_method, None)
+                if method is not None:
+                    return method()
                 return None
             except Exception:
                 pass
         else:
             return None
+    
+    def __contains__(self, typ):
+        """map in to lookup_by_type"""
+        try:
+            self.lookup_by_type(typ)
+        except KeyError:
+            return False
+        else:
+            return True
+    
+    def lookup(self, obj):
+        """Look up the formatter for a given instance.
+        
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        obj  : object instance
 
-    def for_type(self, typ, func):
-        """Add a format function for a given type.
+        Returns
+        -------
+        f : callable
+            The registered formatting callable for the type.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        KeyError if the type has not been registered.
+        """
+        # look for singleton first
+        obj_id = id(obj)
+        if obj_id in self.singleton_printers:
+            return self.singleton_printers[obj_id]
+        # then lookup by type
+        return self.lookup_by_type(_get_type(obj))
+    
+    def lookup_by_type(self, typ):
+        """Look up the registered formatter for a type.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        typ  : type or '__module__.__name__' string for a type
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        f : callable
+            The registered formatting callable for the type.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        KeyError if the type has not been registered.
+        """
+        if isinstance(typ, string_types):
+            typ_key = tuple(typ.rsplit('.',1))
+            if typ_key not in self.deferred_printers:
+                # We may have it cached in the type map. We will have to
+                # iterate over all of the types to check.
+                for cls in self.type_printers:
+                    if _mod_name_key(cls) == typ_key:
+                        return self.type_printers[cls]
+            else:
+                return self.deferred_printers[typ_key]
+        else:
+            for cls in pretty._get_mro(typ):
+                if cls in self.type_printers or self._in_deferred_types(cls):
+                    return self.type_printers[cls]
+        
+        # If we have reached here, the lookup failed.
+        raise KeyError("No registered printer for {0!r}".format(typ))
 
+    def for_type(self, typ, func=None):
+        """Add a format function for a given type.
+        
         Parameters
         -----------
-        typ : class
+        typ : type or '__module__.__name__' string for a type
             The class of the object that will be formatted using `func`.
         func : callable
-            The callable that will be called to compute the format data. The
-            call signature of this function is simple, it must take the
-            object to be formatted and return the raw data for the given
-            format. Subclasses may use a different call signature for the
+            A callable for computing the format data.
+            `func` will be called with the object to be formatted,
+            and will return the raw data in this formatter's format.
+            Subclasses may use a different call signature for the
             `func` argument.
+            
+            If `func` is None or not specified, there will be no change,
+            only returning the current value.
+        
+        Returns
+        -------
+        oldfunc : callable
+            The currently registered callable.
+            If you are registering a new formatter,
+            this will be the previous value (to enable restoring later).
         """
-        oldfunc = self.type_printers.get(typ, None)
+        # if string given, interpret as 'pkg.module.class_name'
+        if isinstance(typ, string_types):
+            type_module, type_name = typ.rsplit('.', 1)
+            return self.for_type_by_name(type_module, type_name, func)
+        
+        try:
+            oldfunc = self.lookup_by_type(typ)
+        except KeyError:
+            oldfunc = None
+        
         if func is not None:
-            # To support easy restoration of old printers, we need to ignore
-            # Nones.
             self.type_printers[typ] = func
+        
         return oldfunc
 
-    def for_type_by_name(self, type_module, type_name, func):
+    def for_type_by_name(self, type_module, type_name, func=None):
         """Add a format function for a type specified by the full dotted
         module and name of the type, rather than the type of the object.
 
@@ -319,37 +404,89 @@ class BaseFormatter(Configurable):
         type_name : str
             The name of the type (the class name), like ``dtype``
         func : callable
-            The callable that will be called to compute the format data. The
-            call signature of this function is simple, it must take the
-            object to be formatted and return the raw data for the given
-            format. Subclasses may use a different call signature for the
+            A callable for computing the format data.
+            `func` will be called with the object to be formatted,
+            and will return the raw data in this formatter's format.
+            Subclasses may use a different call signature for the
             `func` argument.
+            
+            If `func` is None or unspecified, there will be no change,
+            only returning the current value.
+        
+        Returns
+        -------
+        oldfunc : callable
+            The currently registered callable.
+            If you are registering a new formatter,
+            this will be the previous value (to enable restoring later).
         """
         key = (type_module, type_name)
-        oldfunc = self.deferred_printers.get(key, None)
+        
+        try:
+            oldfunc = self.lookup_by_type("%s.%s" % key)
+        except KeyError:
+            oldfunc = None
+        
         if func is not None:
-            # To support easy restoration of old printers, we need to ignore
-            # Nones.
             self.deferred_printers[key] = func
         return oldfunc
+    
+    def pop(self, typ, default=_raise_key_error):
+        """Pop a formatter for the given type.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        typ : type or '__module__.__name__' string for a type
+        default : object
+            value to be returned if no formatter is registered for typ.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        obj : object
+            The last registered object for the type.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        KeyError if the type is not registered and default is not specified.
+        """
+        
+        if isinstance(typ, string_types):
+            typ_key = tuple(typ.rsplit('.',1))
+            if typ_key not in self.deferred_printers:
+                # We may have it cached in the type map. We will have to
+                # iterate over all of the types to check.
+                for cls in self.type_printers:
+                    if _mod_name_key(cls) == typ_key:
+                        old = self.type_printers.pop(cls)
+                        break
+                else:
+                    old = default
+            else:
+                old = self.deferred_printers.pop(typ_key)
+        else:
+            if typ in self.type_printers:
+                old = self.type_printers.pop(typ)
+            else:
+                old = self.deferred_printers.pop(_mod_name_key(typ), default)
+        if old is _raise_key_error:
+            raise KeyError("No registered value for {0!r}".format(typ))
+        return old
 
     def _in_deferred_types(self, cls):
         """
         Check if the given class is specified in the deferred type registry.
 
-        Returns the printer from the registry if it exists, and None if the
-        class is not in the registry. Successful matches will be moved to the
-        regular type registry for future use.
+        Successful matches will be moved to the regular type registry for future use.
         """
         mod = getattr(cls, '__module__', None)
         name = getattr(cls, '__name__', None)
         key = (mod, name)
-        printer = None
         if key in self.deferred_printers:
             # Move the printer over to the regular registry.
             printer = self.deferred_printers.pop(key)
             self.type_printers[cls] = printer
-        return printer
+            return True
+        return False
 
 
 class PlainTextFormatter(BaseFormatter):
diff --git a/IPython/core/pylabtools.py b/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
index 986406b..a53a56e 100644
--- a/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
+++ b/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
@@ -175,13 +175,13 @@ def select_figure_format(shell, fmt):
     png_formatter = shell.display_formatter.formatters['image/png']
 
     if fmt == 'png':
-        svg_formatter.type_printers.pop(Figure, None)
+        svg_formatter.pop(Figure, None)
         png_formatter.for_type(Figure, lambda fig: print_figure(fig, 'png'))
     elif fmt in ('png2x', 'retina'):
-        svg_formatter.type_printers.pop(Figure, None)
+        svg_formatter.pop(Figure, None)
         png_formatter.for_type(Figure, retina_figure)
     elif fmt == 'svg':
-        png_formatter.type_printers.pop(Figure, None)
+        png_formatter.pop(Figure, None)
         svg_formatter.for_type(Figure, lambda fig: print_figure(fig, 'svg'))
     else:
         raise ValueError("supported formats are: 'png', 'retina', 'svg', not %r" % fmt)
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_formatters.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_formatters.py
index 98763ad..c792cae 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_formatters.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_formatters.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ except:
     numpy = None
 import nose.tools as nt
 
-from IPython.core.formatters import PlainTextFormatter
+from IPython.core.formatters import PlainTextFormatter, _mod_name_key
 
 class A(object):
     def __repr__(self):
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ class B(A):
     def __repr__(self):
         return 'B()'
 
+class C:
+    pass
+
 class BadPretty(object):
     _repr_pretty_ = None
 
@@ -87,4 +90,145 @@ def test_bad_precision():
     nt.assert_raises(ValueError, set_fp, 'foo')
     nt.assert_raises(ValueError, set_fp, -1)
 
+def test_for_type():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    
+    # initial return, None
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type(C, foo_printer), None)
+    # no func queries
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type(C), foo_printer)
+    # shouldn't change anything
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type(C), foo_printer)
+    # None should do the same
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type(C, None), foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type(C, None), foo_printer)
+
+def test_for_type_string():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    
+    mod = C.__module__
+    
+    type_str = '%s.%s' % (C.__module__, 'C')
+    
+    # initial return, None
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type(type_str, foo_printer), None)
+    # no func queries
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type(type_str), foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_in(_mod_name_key(C), f.deferred_printers)
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type(C), foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_not_in(_mod_name_key(C), f.deferred_printers)
+    nt.assert_in(C, f.type_printers)
+
+def test_for_type_by_name():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    
+    mod = C.__module__
+    
+    # initial return, None
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type_by_name(mod, 'C', foo_printer), None)
+    # no func queries
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type_by_name(mod, 'C'), foo_printer)
+    # shouldn't change anything
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type_by_name(mod, 'C'), foo_printer)
+    # None should do the same
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type_by_name(mod, 'C', None), foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.for_type_by_name(mod, 'C', None), foo_printer)
+
+def test_lookup():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    
+    f.for_type(C, foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.lookup(C()), foo_printer)
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.lookup(A())
+
+def test_lookup_string():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    type_str = '%s.%s' % (C.__module__, 'C')
+    
+    f.for_type(type_str, foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.lookup(C()), foo_printer)
+    # should move from deferred to imported dict
+    nt.assert_not_in(_mod_name_key(C), f.deferred_printers)
+    nt.assert_in(C, f.type_printers)
+
+def test_lookup_by_type():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    f.for_type(C, foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.lookup_by_type(C), foo_printer)
+    type_str = '%s.%s' % (C.__module__, 'C')
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.lookup_by_type(A)
+
+def test_lookup_by_type_string():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    type_str = '%s.%s' % (C.__module__, 'C')
+    f.for_type(type_str, foo_printer)
+    
+    # verify insertion
+    nt.assert_in(_mod_name_key(C), f.deferred_printers)
+    nt.assert_not_in(C, f.type_printers)
+    
+    nt.assert_is(f.lookup_by_type(type_str), foo_printer)
+    # lookup by string doesn't cause import
+    nt.assert_in(_mod_name_key(C), f.deferred_printers)
+    nt.assert_not_in(C, f.type_printers)
+    
+    nt.assert_is(f.lookup_by_type(C), foo_printer)
+    # should move from deferred to imported dict
+    nt.assert_not_in(_mod_name_key(C), f.deferred_printers)
+    nt.assert_in(C, f.type_printers)
+
+def test_in_formatter():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    f.for_type(C, foo_printer)
+    type_str = '%s.%s' % (C.__module__, 'C')
+    nt.assert_in(C, f)
+    nt.assert_in(type_str, f)
+
+def test_string_in_formatter():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    type_str = '%s.%s' % (C.__module__, 'C')
+    f.for_type(type_str, foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_in(type_str, f)
+    nt.assert_in(C, f)
+
+def test_pop():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    f.for_type(C, foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.lookup_by_type(C), foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.pop(C, None), foo_printer)
+    f.for_type(C, foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.pop(C), foo_printer)
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.lookup_by_type(C)
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.pop(C)
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.pop(A)
+    nt.assert_is(f.pop(A, None), None)
+
+def test_pop_string():
+    f = PlainTextFormatter()
+    type_str = '%s.%s' % (C.__module__, 'C')
+    
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.pop(type_str)
+    
+    f.for_type(type_str, foo_printer)
+    f.pop(type_str)
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.lookup_by_type(C)
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.pop(type_str)
+
+    f.for_type(C, foo_printer)
+    nt.assert_is(f.pop(type_str, None), foo_printer)
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.lookup_by_type(C)
+    with nt.assert_raises(KeyError):
+        f.pop(type_str)
+    nt.assert_is(f.pop(type_str, None), None)
+    
+
 
diff --git a/docs/source/whatsnew/pr/formatters.txt b/docs/source/whatsnew/pr/formatters.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ea9efd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/source/whatsnew/pr/formatters.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+DisplayFormatter changes
+========================
+
+There was no official way to query or remove callbacks in the Formatter API.
+To remedy this, the following methods are added to :class:`BaseFormatter`:
+
+- ``lookup(instance)`` - return appropriate callback or a given object
+- ``lookup_by_type(type_or_str)`` - return appropriate callback for a given type or ``'mod.name'`` type string
+- ``pop(type_or_str)`` - remove a type (by type or string).
+  Pass a second argument to avoid KeyError (like dict).
+
+All of the above methods raise a KeyError if no match is found.
+
+And the following methods are changed:
+
+- ``for_type(type_or_str)`` - behaves the same as before, only adding support for ``'mod.name'``
+  type strings in addition to plain types. This removes the need for ``for_type_by_name()``,
+  but it remains for backward compatibility.
+
+