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Pension Arrangements (Assets Held In Rabbi Trust) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]    
Assets held in rabbi trust $ 50,490us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent $ 53,231us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent
Company-owned variable life insurance    
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]    
Assets held in rabbi trust 45,895us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_CompanyOwnedVariableLifeInsuranceMember
45,581us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_CompanyOwnedVariableLifeInsuranceMember
Mutual fund investments    
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]    
Assets held in rabbi trust $ 4,595us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_MutualFundInvestmentsMember
$ 7,650us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= bid_MutualFundInvestmentsMember