An improved method is disclosed to provide a ceramic article with a protective coating which resists mechanical wear at elevated temperatures up to 500.degree. C. and higher. The coating is formed by first treating the ceramic article's surface with transition metal ions deposited at ambient temperatures, thereafter depositing a mixture containing said transition metal ions and a polymer-forming organic reactant on the treated ceramic article surface at ambient temperatures, and heating the ceramic article to at least 300.degree. C. for polymerization of the organic reactant. Ceramic articles provided with such protective coating include silicon carbide, silicon nitride and vitreous silica.