Consolidated Income Statements (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Auction and related revenues	$ 717,231	$ 791,738	$ 731,021
Finance revenues	17,707	12,038	9,685
Dealer revenues	26,180	21,790	29,092
License fee revenues	6,124	5,228	3,682
Other revenues	1,250	1,042	829
Total revenues	768,492	831,836	774,309
Expenses:
Direct costs of services	65,665	69,507	60,940
Dealer cost of sales	21,118	23,738	24,889
Marketing expenses	17,857	15,059	12,207
Salaries and related costs	273,273	268,530	253,271
General and administrative expenses	158,220	161,097	132,566
Depreciation and amortization expense	17,942	17,604	16,492
Restructuring charges, net	(2)	4,830	(54)
Total expenses	554,073	560,365	500,311
Operating income	214,419	271,471	273,998
Interest income	1,550	4,002	1,739
Interest expense	(44,429)	(41,498)	(46,819)
Extinguishment of debt, net	(15,020)	(1,529)	(6,291)
Other income (expense)	2,916	(1,057)	2,952
Income before taxes	159,436	231,389	225,579
Equity in earnings of investees, net of taxes	251	59	644
Income tax expense	51,395	60,032	65,273
Net income	$ 108,292	$ 171,416	$ 160,950
Basic earnings per share - Sotheby’s common shareholders (usd per share)	$ 1.59	$ 2.52	$ 2.37
Diluted earnings per share - Sotheby’s common shareholders (usd per share)	$ 1.57	$ 2.46	$ 2.34
Cash dividends paid per common share (usd per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.23	$ 0.20