Why are some bases so heavy?

Solid plinths need internal weight to stop the top from tipping. Makers often hid cast iron or concrete blocks inside the wooden carcase. Without four corner legs to distribute the load, a central pedestal has to do all the heavy lifting.

I inherited a really large dining one from my grandmother and it has these thick metal bands around the base, what were those actually used for?

Those metal bands protect the timber from shoes and sweeping brushes. Dining chairs get pushed in and out constantly. Diners often rest their feet on the base during meals. Makers added chrome or brass strips as a practical shield. They also offer a sharp visual contrast against the dark wood veneer.

What makes the top shiny?

Most Parisian workshops used traditional French polish. Other factories sprayed early cellulose lacquers instead.

When I try to move the low circular table in my sitting room the top spins around separately from the bottom bit, is it supposed to do that?

Yes, that rotation is intentional. You likely have a piece designed for serving drinks to people seated around it. These revolving tops were popular additions to modern living spaces. The mechanism usually relies on a simple metal pin dropping into a socket on the base.

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Art Deco Tables in South East

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Produced during the 1920s and 1930s, these distinct geometric Art Deco tables served practical purposes in modern interiors, replacing fussy traditional forms with bold veneers and clean metallic lines.