I'm a bit stuck on adding new transforms to existing objects which already have transforms.

What I really want to do is add a translate to an existing object, with an x, y direction relative to the page axis rather than relative to the transformed object coordinate system.

I have been cheating, wrapping the existing object in a group, then simply using new_group.transform.add_translate(20, 30) for example.

Otherwise for example if I have an object with translate(rotate(45)), when I multiply object.transform * Transform('translate(20, 0)')

The object moves in the diagonal direction as you might expect. 

Is there an easy way to do this without cheating, and without getting into dissecting the transform order ? 

Many Thanks.

Well I managed to find an outrageous workaround.

Wrap the object in a new group

Apply a transformation to the group

Get the composed_transform() for the object whilst still in the group.

Move the object into it's original layer

Apply the composed transform to the object.

Delete the new group.