When does tarnishing or dirt become Patina ?  

Also...
How do you resize photos if using tinypic to host ?

Love the Patina!
I personally would not touch this beauty!

When does tarnishing or dirt become Patina ?
From the beginning, I say. I think that patina is to be appreciated whenever polishing is too much of a pain in the ass, which for me is always.

Tinypics
Really? 😉

objectworship...
I have a polishing wheel so the process is simple enough.
Surely the fact this was bright and shiney new means it should be bright and shiney again ?

is the logo...
kobberkompagniet ?

I don't know the label (natch)..
But the patina on that lamp is divine. It has a history.
just a thought.
Aunt Mark

If it were mine, I'd leave it as is.
There are chemical treatments that will produce different colors on copper, but the naturally-occurring ruddy surface on your shade, highlighted by by areas of "verdigris" corrosion products, is virtually impossible to fake convincingly. It looks to me like the shade has spent some considerable time in either a semi-protected outdoor or other high-humidity environment.
I don't know the preferences on your side of the pond, but honest patina like that is highly desirable over here in the US.

On second consideration...
are you sure that it was polished originally? I'm having trouble imagining it so.

Killian
Is this something you want to keep or sell?
If keeping it, I say do what makes you happy. I personally would not want it all polished and shiny. I love the way a lot of materials age. But it's not mine.
If it is something you are selling, unless it is damaged, I totally would leave it as is. I always err on the side of caution, and like a doctor, try to "do no harm". There are those like me who would want the patina, and you can't get that back once you polish it away. If someone wants it all shiny and new looking you can let them polish it, or facilitate it for them, but let it be their choice as they will be the ones to live with it.

Thank you all.
Thank you for your replies, it will stay as is.