A water-based black enamel composition capable of being deposited on a glass substrate, especially on a glass sheet. The enamel composition includes: 20 to 40% by weight of water-soluble sodium silicate and/or potassium silicate; a water-soluble base, in an amount sufficient for the pH of the composition to be at least 10.5; 5 to 25% by weight of water; 40 to 60% by weight of a metal oxide chosen from the group consisting of copper oxides, iron oxides, cobalt oxides, mixtures of these oxides, and mixtures of at least one of the oxides with chromium oxide(s); less than 10% by weight of zinc oxide; at least 10% by weight of a glass frit having a melting point below 680.degree. C.; and less than 10% by weight of a glass frit having a Littleton point above 700.degree. C. A glazing, especially an automobile glazing, including at least one glass sheet can have at least one of the faces of the glass sheet coated at least partially with the enamel composition.