Metal container and flower containers in oil paintings (8)
I believe the answer is:
canvases
'oil paintings' is the definition.
(canvas is a kind of oil painting)
'metal container and flower containers' is the wordplay.
'metal container' becomes 'can' (I've seen this before).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'flower containers' becomes 'vases' (I've seen this in another clue).
'can'+'vases'='CANVASES'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for canvases that I've seen before include "Oil paintings, or pieces of cloth for them" , "Paint in oil on these." .)