Bell was born in Hagerstown in 1800. The oldest of 10 children, he was trained by his father, Peter Bell, and influenced by Hagerstown’s large and active community of immigrant potters.

Sixty-five attendees looked at the museum’s pottery after Comstock’s talk. “A lot of people in this room have collections of John Bell themselves,” Ashe-Mahr said.

Cal State Fullerton’s newest exhibition at the Pollak Library features pottery from renowned artist Florentino Jimon Barba. Six pieces representative of his style are on display, including pots ...