Notice small earthenware container (4)
I believe the answer is:
spot
'notice' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'small earthenware container' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'earthenware container' becomes 'pot'.
's'+'pot'='SPOT'
(Other definitions for spot that I've seen before include "Notice; sign of acne" , "clock" , "Notice; mark" , "See - blemish" , "small amount" .)