You are describing Caleb to a T!

He wouldn't have a bar of solids till he was 8 months. I'd put him in the highchair when I was eating and break off a bit of what I was eating and put it on the tray for him to play with. eg cheese or bread . He eventually started feeding himself.
I bypassed the puree stage and went for diced steamed vegies which he was happy enough to put in his mouth. In time he'd allow me to feed him porrige or youghurt off a spoon but it took a long time and a lot of mess.