Peter Carl Faberge was commissioned to create the first egg for the twentieth wedding anniversary of Alexander III and his wife Maria Feodorovna in 1885. Every subsequent Easter, another egg was made for Maria as a gift from her husband the tsar of Russia. After the passing of Alexander III, his son took up the tradition presenting his wife and his mother with their own custom Faberge egg every Easter. In all, 50 eggs were commissioned - to this day eight are still missing.