ThisarticleprovidesahistoricalaccountofthemajordevelopmentsintheareaofcurvesandsurfacesastheyenteredtheareaofCAGD{ComputerAidedGeometricDesign{untilthemiddle1980s.WeadoptthedenitionthatCAGDdealswiththeconstructionandrepresentationoffree-formcurves,surfaces,orvolumes.