Pottery expert embracing student (5)
I believe the answer is:
delft
'pottery' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'expert embracing student' is the wordplay.
'expert' becomes 'deft' (I've seen this in other clues).
'embracing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'deft' going around 'l' is 'DELFT'.
(Other definitions for delft that I've seen before include "South Holland pottery town" , "Glazed earthenware, usually white with blue decoration" , "Vessels" , "Dutch blue/white glazed earthenware" , "Style of earthenware" .)