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Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 64 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2012
Jun. 17, 2008
Jun. 11, 2008
warrant
Jun. 30, 2013
Aug. 31, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2013
Jun. 14, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Nov. 23, 2012
Feb. 28, 2009
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Feb. 06, 2009
Sep. 27, 2012
Jan. 11, 2008
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Maximum Amount of Net Auction Guarantees Permissible                     $ 600,000,000bid_MaximumAmountofNetAuctionGuaranteesPermissible           $ 600,000,000bid_MaximumAmountofNetAuctionGuaranteesPermissible      
Credit facility borrowings             0us-gaap_LineOfCredit       445,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit 0us-gaap_LineOfCredit         445,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit      
York mortgage property maturity date                     July 1, 2035                  
Debt instrument stated interest percentage             3.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage         3.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage                
Amortization of debt discount to interest expenses                                   22,900,000bid_DiscountInitiallyRecordedOnTheEntitysMortgage    
Incremental Credit Facility Extension Period                     365 days                  
Percentage of principal amount debt as component of premium price 1.00%bid_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountOfDebtAsComponentOfPremiumPrice                                      
Maximum percentage of redeemable 2022 senior note 35.00%bid_MaximumPercentageOfRedeemable2022SeniorNotesPrincipal                                      
Redemption price percentage of 2022 Senior Notes 105.25%bid_RedemptionPricePercentageOf2022SeniorNotes                                      
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes                     0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt 300,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt              
Extinguishment of debt                     0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt 15,020,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt              
Conversion per principal value of convertible notes   1,000bid_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPerPrincipalValue                                    
Repayments of Principal Amount of Convertible Debt               181,900,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt                        
Repayments of Convertible Debt                     0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt 197,371,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt 0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt              
Liability for Conversion Option Reclassified to Stockholders Equity                 21,800,000bid_LiabilityforConversionOptionReclassifiedtoStockholdersEquity 8,200,000bid_LiabilityforConversionOptionReclassifiedtoStockholdersEquity                    
Embedded net of tax                 12,000,000bid_EmbeddedNetOfTax 5,400,000bid_EmbeddedNetOfTax                    
Payments for (Proceeds from) Derivative Instrument, Financing Activities     40,600,000us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities 15,500,000us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities 4,400,000us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities           0us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities (15,503,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities 0us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities              
Carrying value of convertible note hedge recorded in equity, net of taxes                 12,000,000bid_CarryingValueOfConvertibleNoteHedgeRecordedInEquityNetOfTaxes                      
Convertible note hedge reclassification           8,200,000bid_ConvertibleNoteHedgeReclassification                            
Convertible note hedge reclassification net of taxes           5,300,000bid_ConvertibleNoteHedgeReclassificationNetOfTaxes                            
Carrying Value Of Convertible Note Hedge Reclassified to Other Current Assets                 21,800,000bid_CarryingValueOfConvertibleNoteHedgeReclassifiedtoOtherCurrentAssets                      
Incremental common shares attributable to call options and warrants (shares)     5,900,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants               0us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants 49,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants 0us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants              
Common stock price per share to be acquired through warrant (usd per share)     $ 44.50us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1                                  
Warrant exercise price (usd per share)     $ 44.50us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1                                  
Net proceeds from sale of warrant     22,300,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants                                  
Warrant Exercise Daily Limit     118,348bid_WarrantExerciseDailyLimit                                  
Warrant Exercise Daily Limit Time Period     50 days                                  
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other             722,288us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesOther                          
Interest paid                     42,400,000us-gaap_InterestPaid 33,200,000us-gaap_InterestPaid 34,900,000us-gaap_InterestPaid              
Senior Notes [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Debt instrument stated interest percentage   7.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
                                   
Aggregate principal value of debt   150,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
                                   
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes   145,900,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
                                   
Effective interest rate   8.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
                                   
Long-term Debt, Gross                           80,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Early repayment of senior debt                           97,000,000us-gaap_EarlyRepaymentOfSeniorDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Interest payable, current                           2,700,000us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Redemption Premium                           14,000,000us-gaap_RedemptionPremium
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Extinguishment of debt                         15,000,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
             
Write-off of unamortized discount                         1,000,000bid_WriteOffOfProportionateAmountOfUnamortizedDiscountAndDeferredTransactionCosts
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
             
Convertible Notes Member                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Aggregate principal value of debt   200,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Debt instrument maturity date                     June 15, 2013                  
Stated interest rate of convertible debt   3.125%bid_StatedInterestRateOfConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Net proceeds from convertible notes   194,300,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Convertible notes conversion ratio   29.5920us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio1
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Convertible notes conversion price (usd per share)   $ 33.79us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Convertible notes payable   161,800,000us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayable
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Estimated debt rate   7.75%bid_EstimatedDebtRate
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Reclassification to equity   38,200,000us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeNoLongerBifurcatedAmountReclassifiedToStockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Equity Component of Convertible Debt   21,000,000us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalEquityComponentOfConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                                   
Repayments of Principal Amount of Convertible Debt           18,100,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                           
Repayments of Convertible Debt           22,500,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                           
Interest Expense, Debt                     0us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
6,417,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
13,470,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
             
Convertible Note Hedge And Warrant Transactions [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Carrying value of convertible note hedge recorded in equity, net of taxes     22,500,000bid_CarryingValueOfConvertibleNoteHedgeRecordedInEquityNetOfTaxes
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNoteHedgeAndWarrantTransactionsMember
                                 
York Property Mortgage Member [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Fair value                     222,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMemberMember
          222,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMemberMember
212,100,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMemberMember
   
2022 Senior Notes                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Debt instrument stated interest percentage                                     5.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_SeniorNotes2022Member
 
Fair value                     283,500,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_SeniorNotes2022Member
          283,500,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_SeniorNotes2022Member
     
Aggregate principal value of debt                                     300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_SeniorNotes2022Member
 
Debt instrument maturity date                     October 1, 2022                  
Net proceeds from issuance of long term debt 293,700,000bid_NetProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_SeniorNotes2022Member
                                     
Percentage of senior notes principal as part of redemption price 100.00%bid_PercentageOfSeniorNotesPrincipalAsPartOfRedemptionPrice
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_SeniorNotes2022Member
                                     
Minimum [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Covenants, aggregate borrowing availability                     100,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantAggregateBorrowingAvailability
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
          100,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantAggregateBorrowingAvailability
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Covenant, total liquidity amount                     200,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTotalLiquidityAmount
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
          200,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTotalLiquidityAmount
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Minimum [Member] | York Property Mortgage Member [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Debt instrument stated interest percentage                     5.60%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMemberMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
          5.60%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMemberMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Maximum [Member] | York Property Mortgage Member [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Debt instrument stated interest percentage                     10.60%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMemberMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
          10.60%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMemberMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
     
York Property Mortgage Member                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Unamortized discount             5,346,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMember
      1,782,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMember
5,346,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMember
        1,782,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMember
     
Long-term debt             218,778,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMember
      218,728,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMember
218,778,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMember
        218,728,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_YorkPropertyMortgageMember
     
Convertible Notes Member                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Unamortized discount             3,796,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
      0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
3,796,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
        0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
     
Senior Notes [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Unamortized discount             0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
      0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
        0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
     
Long-term debt             300,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
      300,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
300,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
        300,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
     
Signing Of Related Purchase And Sale Agreement On January 11, 2008 [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Components of purchase price of land and buildings                                       50,000,000bid_ComponentsOfPurchasePriceOfLandAndBuildings
/ bid_AcquisitionOfLandAndBuildingSourceOfFinanceAxis
= bid_SigningOfRelatedPurchaseAndSaleAgreementOnJanuaryElevenTwoThousandEightMember
Purchase Consummated On February 6, 2009 [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Property acquisition price                                   370,000,000bid_PropertyAcquisitionPrice
/ bid_AcquisitionOfLandAndBuildingSourceOfFinanceAxis
= bid_PurchaseConsummatedOnFebruarySixTwoThousandNineMember
   
Components of purchase price of land and buildings                                   85,000,000bid_ComponentsOfPurchasePriceOfLandAndBuildings
/ bid_AcquisitionOfLandAndBuildingSourceOfFinanceAxis
= bid_PurchaseConsummatedOnFebruarySixTwoThousandNineMember
   
Assumption Of Existing Mortgage [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Components of purchase price of land and buildings                                   235,000,000bid_ComponentsOfPurchasePriceOfLandAndBuildings
/ bid_AcquisitionOfLandAndBuildingSourceOfFinanceAxis
= bid_AssumptionOfExistingMortgageMember
   
Fees paid in conjunction with assumption of mortgage property                             2,400,000bid_FeesPaidInConjunctionWithAssumptionOfMortgageProperty
/ bid_AcquisitionOfLandAndBuildingSourceOfFinanceAxis
= bid_AssumptionOfExistingMortgageMember
         
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Credit facility borrowings             0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
        0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
               
Convertible Notes Member                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Repayments of Convertible Debt               197,400,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                       
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Beneficial Conversion Feature           4,400,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleBeneficialConversionFeature
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
  15,500,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleBeneficialConversionFeature
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
                       
Write off of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost                               1,500,000us-gaap_WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= bid_ConvertibleNotesMember
       
New Credit Agreement [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Borrowing base                     757,085,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
          757,085,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
     
Credit facility borrowings                     445,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
          445,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
     
Line of credit, remaining borrowing capacity                     312,085,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
          312,085,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
     
Increase in borrowing capacity                     100,000,000bid_MaximumAmountofIncreaseInBorrowingCapacityAllowed
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
          100,000,000bid_MaximumAmountofIncreaseInBorrowingCapacityAllowed
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
     
Line of credit, sub limit                     200,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilitySubLimit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
          200,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilitySubLimit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
     
Total facility fees paid                     5,400,000bid_TotalLifeToDateCreditFacilityFeesPaid
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
          18,500,000bid_TotalLifeToDateCreditFacilityFeesPaid
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
     
Debt instrument maturity date                     August 22, 2019                  
Maximum borrowing capacity                     850,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
          850,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_NewCreditAgreementMember
     
Finance Segment Credit Agreement [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Borrowing base                     519,255,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
          519,255,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Credit facility borrowings                     445,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
          445,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Line of credit, remaining borrowing capacity                     74,255,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
          74,255,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Line of credit, sub limit                     150,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilitySubLimit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
          150,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilitySubLimit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Maximum borrowing capacity                     550,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
          550,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Interest paid                     11,200,000us-gaap_InterestPaid
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
                 
Interest Expense, Debt                     7,700,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
                 
Amortization of Financing Costs                     1,000,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
                 
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period                     2.90%us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_FinanceSegmentCreditAgreementMember
                 
Agency Segment Credit Agreement [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Borrowing base                     237,830,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
          237,830,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Credit facility borrowings                     0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
          0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Line of credit, remaining borrowing capacity                     237,830,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
          237,830,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Line of credit, sub limit                     50,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilitySubLimit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
          50,000,000bid_LineOfCreditFacilitySubLimit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Maximum borrowing capacity                     300,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
          300,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
     
Interest paid                     31,200,000us-gaap_InterestPaid
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_AgencySegmentCreditAgreementMember
                 
Incremental Credit Facility [Member]                                        
Debt [Line Items]                                        
Borrowing base                     $ 50,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_IncrementalCreditFacilityMember
          $ 50,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= bid_IncrementalCreditFacilityMember
     
Debt instrument maturity date                     August 21, 2015