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Pension Arrangements (Fair Value Measurement Information U.K. Pension Plan Assets) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets $ 410,928us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets $ 397,469us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets $ 336,189us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
Quoted Pricesin Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 311,554us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 99,374us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
   
Growth assets      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 247,393us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_GrowthAssetsMember
280,019us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_GrowthAssetsMember
 
Growth assets | Quoted Pricesin Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 176,219us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_GrowthAssetsMember
   
Growth assets | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 71,174us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_GrowthAssetsMember
   
Growth assets | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_GrowthAssetsMember
   
Debt securities      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 158,436us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
113,393us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Debt securities | Quoted Pricesin Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 133,212us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Debt securities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 25,224us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Debt securities | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Debt securities | Corporate [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 37,929us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
30,774us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Debt securities | Corporate [Member] | Quoted Pricesin Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 12,705us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Debt securities | Corporate [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 25,224us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Debt securities | Corporate [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Debt securities | Index-Linked [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 120,507us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= bid_IndexLinkedMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
82,619us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= bid_IndexLinkedMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Debt securities | Index-Linked [Member] | Quoted Pricesin Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 120,507us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= bid_IndexLinkedMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Debt securities | Index-Linked [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= bid_IndexLinkedMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Debt securities | Index-Linked [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ invest_InvestmentSecuritiesClassAxis
= bid_IndexLinkedMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Real estate mutual funds      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 2,976us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_RealEstateMutualFundsMember
2,746us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_RealEstateMutualFundsMember
 
Real estate mutual funds | Quoted Pricesin Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_RealEstateMutualFundsMember
   
Real estate mutual funds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 2,976us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_RealEstateMutualFundsMember
   
Real estate mutual funds | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_RealEstateMutualFundsMember
   
Cash and cash equivalents      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 2,123us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
1,311us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
 
Cash and cash equivalents | Quoted Pricesin Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 2,123us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
   
Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
   
Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Total fair value of plan assets $ 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember