VIXSEBOXSE was born in Almelo, Netherlands, he was the sixth and youngest child of Bernardus Vixseboxse (1820 10 26), a carpenter contractor, and his wife, Janneken Lulof (1822 10 24) whom he married in Almelo on 12 May 1849.
Like his eldest brother Bernardus (1850 03 06) and the second eldest, Gerrit Willem (1856 03 10), he was probably apprenticed as a carpenter by day and at night was a pupil at a school for drawing before he could start his own business. On 9 September 1888 he left Rotterdam for the South African Republic, where he joined the PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT under the competent direction of the architect Sytze WIERDA who had come to the Transvaal the previous year at the invitation of Pres. SJP Kruger. Shortly after his arrival in the Transvaal he persuaded his brother-in-law's brother, MCA MEISCHKE, to settle in the Republic as a building contractor. According to Rex (1957:27), he joined Klaas VAN RIJSSE in partnership in Pretoria in 1889. On 10 September 1890 he was appointed Government Architect in the PWD of the Orange Free State, replacing R HALLE who had been retrenched in 1886, owing to the depression of the 1880s.
He was also permitted to do private work, the landdrost's office in Ficksburg (1892), now the JIJ Fick Museum is attributed to Vixseboxse (Schoeman 1985:77-79), and also seems to have been in association with JH MULLER in 1892. He seems to have found time, while in Bloemfontein, to conduct classes in Architectural Draughting for the public at Grey College. In 1893 he, in collaboration with DE WENTINK, won the competition for the Natural History Museum in Cape Town whereupon Vixseboxse resigned as Government Architect on 1 May 1893 and set up practice in Cape Town, leaving his assistant WENTINK to take up his position with the OFS PWD. After his departure he suffered censure by members of the Volksraad, a Mr Fischer noting that “... this official was deficient in many ways” and displeasure recorded at the supervision of contracts in outlying areas, one A J Burger commenting that “ experts ... have no practical experience and have less sense about stones than the common sense of an ordinary person” (in Roodt, 1987:154-5).
He and WENTINK were subsequently placed second in the competition for the Cape Town City Hall in 1894.
When in the Cape he is recorded (Walker, 2011: 13) as having additions to a Miss Nicholson’s home, named Muizenberg House (c/o Gill and Main Roads, Muizenberg 1897, demolished), a hotel (ibid: 14), Scowen’s Hotel, later Marine Hotel (Muizenberg, 1898), a store for Frikkie Auret (ibid: 14) (Auret Rd, Muizenberg, 1901), a home for a Mrs Volsteedt (ibid: 14) (Atlantic Road, Muizenberg, 1902)
Vixseboxse served on the committee which drafted the constitution of the South African Society of Architects in Cape Town in 1899. He left for the Netherlands during the Anglo-Boer War but returned to South Africa in 1902 to join the office of Charles BULLOCK Oudtshoorn (cf BULLOCK & VIXSEBOXSE). The practice flourished, making the most of the ostrich feather boom. [However, whether this practice actually existed is disputed by current researchers who find no evidence to support this and it remains a contentious record. (Eds, 2014)]. He was appointed architect-in-charge for WH LOUW's Dutch Reformed Church building at Calitzdorp (1910-1912) and left Oudtshoorn in 1914, owing largely to the collapse of the ostrich feather market. The General directory of United South Africa listed him as working in Port Elizabeth in 1915.
In 1925, after an absence of nearly twenty years from Muizenberg, he is recorded (Walker, 2011:14) of designing extentions to Hooten’s Garage (Main Road, Muizenberg, later Bingham’s Motor Garage, now the Masque Theatre).
He died in Johannesburg.
SASA; FCIA 1911. (Gen dir USA 1915)
Publ: Italian works of art, AB&E Jan 1921:24 All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. List of projects With photographs
 With notes
* Indicates buildings on the Pryce-Lewis list
2 Single-Storey Dwellings for I Schulman: 1898. Richmond Estate, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 3 Single-Storey Dwellings for I Schulman: 1898. Walmer Estate, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| 4 Single-Storey Dwellings for EAC Grader: 1899. Rondebosch, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| AJ Roux Premises: ?? : 1901. Cardoville, Gauteng - Architect *
| Ajmoodien E Shops and Dwelling: 1901. Salt River, Western Cape - Architect *
| Albany Museum - First: 1897. Makhanda (Grahamstown), Eastern Cape - Architect
| Blacksmith's Shop: ?? : 1898. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Boys' High School Gymnasium - now CP Nel Museum: 1912. Oudtshoorn, Western Cape - Architect
| Crystal cottages - Addition of 2 Shops: 1902. Salt River, Western Cape - Architect *
| Damensinstituut 'Upper House': c1890. Bloemfontein, Free State - Architect
| Dan Mills and Sons Bakery: ?? : 1899. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Das Deutsche Haus - German Club: n.d. : 1895. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect 1895 *
| Dutch Reformed Church Hall, Offices etc: 1900. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Ebell and Co: ?? : 1896. Bokaap, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Erritt Lodge - Kelston: 1894 : 1898. Kenilworth, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect 1894 *
| Flensburg Villa: ?? : 1898. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Gaiety Theatre: 1912. Calitzdorp, Western Cape - Architect
| Gaiety Theatre: 1912. Oudtshoorn, Western Cape - Architect
| General Post Office: 1897 : 1905. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect Original design
| Girls' School Hostel: 1982. Bethlehem, Free State - Design Architect
| Good Hope Seminary: ?? : 1896. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Government Buildings - Third Raadzaal - National Museum of Afrikaans Literature: 1875 : 1895 : 1906 : 1911. Bloemfontein, Free State - Design Architect 1895
| Groote Kerk: 1835-1836. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Groote Kerk Store: 1899. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Gustav Anderson and Co: ?? : 1901. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Hirsch's Temperance Hotel - Scowen's Hotel - Marine Hotel: 1892 : 1898 : 1908. Muizenberg, Western Cape - Architect 1898 *
| Hofmeyer Chambers: ?? : 1893. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Home for 'Poor Whites': 1897. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Hooten’s Garage - Masque Theatre: n.d. : 1925. Muizenberg, Western Cape - Architect extensions 1925
| House Edmeades - Pinehurst: 1911. Oudtshoorn, Western Cape - Architect
| House for B Volsteedt: 1902. Maitland, Western Cape - Architect *
| House for CJF Theron: ?? : 1896. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House for EH Lucouw: ?? : 1900. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House Miss Nicholson: n.d. : 1897. Table View, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House PJ Bosman: ?? : 1896. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| House Volsteedt: 1902. Muizenberg, Western Cape - Architect
| Industrial School: 1911. Oudtshoorn, Western Cape - Architect
| Iziko South African Museum: 1893. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Kindersendinghuis: 1898. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Lewin Bos: 1901. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Magistrate's Court - Fick Museum - Setsoto FM: 1890s. Ficksburg, Free State - Architect
| Market bldg: pre-1908. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
| Muizenberg House: n.d. : 1896. Muizenberg, Western Cape - Architect 1896 additions
| National Bank of the SA Republic Ltd.: 1896. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Natural History Museum: 1893. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk: 1910. Calitzdorp, Western Cape - Project Architect
| Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk: 1897. Woodstock, Western Cape - Architect
| Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk: 1831-1832 : 1842 : 1897-1898. Wynberg, Western Cape - Architect 1897
| Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk - Second: 1892 : 1919. Beaufort West, Western Cape - Architect tower 1919
| NG Kerk, pulpit: 1910. De Rust, Western Cape - Architect
| Orange Grove: n.d. : 1898. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Orphanage & Shops: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Painter's Workshop for HD Hunt: 1896. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Parsonage for the Dutch Reformed Church: 1899. Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Pinehurst - House Edmeades: 1911. Oudtshoorn, Western Cape - Architect
| Post Office: 1891. Bloemfontein, Free State - Design Architect
| Post Office: 1901. ?, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Premises for HAP Burmeister: 1900. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Premises of Mrs De Kock: ?? : 1898. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Railway Station Building, New: 1891. Bloemfontein, Free State - Design Architect
| Residence for C Wilkinson: 1899. Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Shop and Dwelling for Joos Fritz: 1897. De Waterkant, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Silberbauer, Wahl and Fuller: n.d. : 1900. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Standard Bank: 1911-1912. Calitzdorp, Western Cape - Architect
| Store for Frikkie Auret: 1901. Muizenberg, Western Cape - Architect
| Upper House: n.d.. Bloemfontein, Free State - Design Architect
| Varney's Corner: ?? : 1898. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *
| Volkshospitaal [National Hospital]: 1892. Bloemfontein, Free State - Design Architect
| Welgeluk: 1910. Oudtshoorn, Western Cape - Architect
|
Articles citing VIXSEBOXSE Ferreira, Naas. 1983. J.E. Vixseboxse 1836 - 1943. Restorica: Journal of the Simon van der Stel Foundation No 13, April
| Unknown. 1978. Stukkie van Pretoria in die Kaap. Restorica: Journal of the Simon van der Stel Foundation. Vol 19 No 36, August 23-24
| Unknown. 1977. Stukkie van Pretoria in die Kaap. Die Burger 16 June
| Unknown. 1984. Article with reference to Vixseboxse. SA Panorama 30 Nov
|
Books citing VIXSEBOXSE Bakker, Karel A, Clarke, Nicholas J. 2014. Eclectic ZA Wilhelmiens : A shared Dutch built heritage in South Africa. Pretoria: Visual Books. pp 76, 77, 87, 195-196, 199-200
| Brown, SM. 1969. Architects and others: an annotated list of people of South African interest appearing in the RIBA Journal 1880-1925. Johannesburg: Unpublished dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand. pp
| Fransen, Hans. 2004. The old buildings of the Cape. A survey of extant architecture from before c1910 in the area of Cape Town - Calvinia - Colesberg - Uitenhage. Johannesburg & Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers. pp 36, 87, 124, 498, 507, 508, 509
| HSRC. 1987. Dictionary of South African Biography Volume V. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. pp 849
| Langham-Carter, RR. 1979. Nineteenth century architects etc. in the Western Cape. Cape Town: Unpublished MS, UCT Library. pp
| Menache, Philippe & Wolff, Helmut. 2021. die NG Kerk, ons erfenis : 'n fotoversameling van die argitektoniese skatte van 139 NG kerke in SA. Not identified: Not identified. pp 90, 127
| Picton-Seymour, Désirée. 1977. Victorian Buildings in South Africa. Cape Town: AA Balkema. pp 80*, 81, 155, 159*, 161, 163*, 276, 295, 365, 367*
| Picton-Seymour, Désirée. 1989. Historical Buildings in South Africa. Cape Town: Struikhof Publishers. pp 12, 15, 87, 129, 168
| Radford, D. 1979. The architecture of the Western Cape, 1838-1901. A study of the impact of Victorian aesthetics and technology on South African architecture. Johannesburg: Unpublished Ph.D thesis. Dept of Arch. University of the Witwatersrand. pp
| Roodt, Leon. 1987. The Architecture of the Orange Free State Republic 1854-1902. Bloemfontein: Unpublished Ph.D. pp 143, 145, 146, 149, 150, 152, 153, 154
| Schoeman, Karel. 1980. Bloemfontein: die ontstaan van 'n stad. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. pp 121b-122a, 122b, 123a
| Schoeman, Karel. 1982. Vrystaatse erfenis : Bouwerk en geboue in die 19de eeu. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. pp 94, 95, 98, 101-102, 105, 107 (x2), illus. 55 (portrait)
| Schoeman, Karel. 1985. Boukunsskatte van die Vrystaat / Free State Heritage. Roodepoort: CUM Boeke vir Stigting NALM. pp 64, 78
| Van Winter, PJ. 1938. Onder Krugers Hollanders : Geschiedenis van de Nederlandsche Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorweg-Maatschappij. Tweede Deel. Amsterdam: JH de Bussy. pp 36 n1
| Von Wurzburg-Schade, J H F. 1897. South African agriculturists' year book and almanac for 1897 : the Cape farmers' own vade mecum. Cape Town: Western Province Pub. Co.. pp 129 Add
| Walker, Michael. 2010. A Statement In Stone. Cape Town: Privately published by Michael Walker. pp 12-13
| Walker, Michael. 2012. Early architects of Cape Town and their buildings (1820 - 1926) with postcard illustrations, The. St James: Michael Walker. pp 57-59
| Walker, Michael. 2013. The pioneer architects of Johannesburg and their buildings (1886 - 1899) with postcard illustrations. St James: The Kalk Bay Historical Association. pp 13, 20
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