Criminal receiver getting hold of excellent ceramic ware (7)
I believe the answer is:
faience
'ceramic ware' is the definition.
(type of ceramic product)
'criminal receiver getting hold of excellent' is the wordplay.
'criminal receiver' becomes 'fence' (a fence is a receiver of stolen goods).
'getting hold of' is an insertion indicator.
'excellent' becomes 'ai' (resembles 'A1', old-fashioned term for excellent).
'fence' going around 'ai' is 'FAIENCE'.
(Other definitions for faience that I've seen before include "porcelain" , "A glazed earthenware" , "ceramic ware" .)