Glass vessels containing earth (5)
I believe the answer is:
panes
'glass vessels containing earth' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'vessels containing earth' is the wordplay.
'vessels' becomes 'pans' (pans are vessels or containers).
'containing' is an insertion indicator.
'earth' becomes 'E'.
'pans' going around 'e' is 'PANES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for panes that I've seen before include "Glass pieces in windows" , "Glass slabs" , "Sheets of window glass" , "Glass rectangles in windows" , "Sheet glass cut for windows" .)