Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Business	Business Sotheby’s (or “the Company”) is a global art business whose operations are organized under three segments: Agency, Principal, and Finance. The Agency segment matches buyers and sellers of authenticated fine art, decorative art, and jewelry (collectively, “art” or “works of art” or “artwork” or "property") through the auction or private sale process. The activities of the Principal segment include the sale of artworks that have been purchased opportunistically by Sotheby’s and, to a lesser extent, retail wine sales and the activities of Acquavella Modern Art, an equity investee (see Note 7). The Finance segment conducts art-related financing activities by providing certain collectors and dealers with loans secured by works of art (see Note 5). To a lesser extent, Sotheby’s is also involved in brand licensing activities. (See Note 4 for additional information related to Sotheby’s segments.)

Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Sotheby’s (or “the Company”) is a global art business whose operations are organized under three segments: Agency, Principal, and Finance. The Agency segment matches buyers and sellers of authenticated fine art, decorative art, and jewelry (collectively, “art” or “works of art” or “artwork” or "property") through the auction or private sale process. The activities of the Principal segment include the sale of artworks that have been purchased opportunistically by Sotheby’s and, to a lesser extent, retail wine sales and the activities of Acquavella Modern Art, an equity investee (see Note 7). The Finance segment conducts art-related financing activities by providing certain collectors and dealers with loans secured by works of art (see Note 5). To a lesser extent, Sotheby’s is also involved in brand licensing activities. (See Note 4 for additional information related to Sotheby’s segments.)