Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings (Unaudited) [Abstract] Net sales Cost of sales Gross profit The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. This excludes bad debt and notes receivable valuation charges. Selling, general and administrative expenses excluding bad debt and notes receivable valuation charges Bad debt and notes receivable valuation charges Charge against earnings from the cancellation of obligations Licensee debt cancellation charges Restructuring and asset impairment charges Lease exit costs Income (loss) from operations Gain on sale of affiliate Income from Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act which are funds provided from the U.S. Treasury as a result of favorable legal action against Chinese suppliers that dumped furniture in the U.S. Income from Continued Dumping & Subsidy Offset Act Other income (loss), net Income before income taxes Income tax benefit (expense) Net income Retained earnings-beginning of period Purchase and retirement of common stock Cash dividends Retained earnings-end of period Basic earnings per share (in Dollars per share) Diluted earnings per share (in Dollars per share) Dividends per share (in Dollars per share) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Current assets Current assets [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable, net Marketable securities Inventories Other current assets Total current assets Property and equipment Property and equipment [Abstract] Cost Less accumulated depreciation Property and equipment, net Investments Retail real estate Notes receivable, net Other Total long-term assets Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity [Abstract] Current liabilities Current liabilities [Abstract] Accounts payable Accrued compensation and benefits Customer deposits Dividends payable Other accrued liabilities Current portion of real estate notes payable Total current liabilities Long-term liabilities Long-term liabilities [Abstract] Post employment benefit obligations Real estate notes payable Other long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Stockholders’ equity Stockholders’ equity [Abstract] Common stock Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) [Abstract] Operating activities: Operating activities: [Abstract] Net income Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Equity in undistributed income of investments and unconsolidated affiliated companies Provision for restructuring and asset impairment charges The non-cash portion of the gain (loss) related to the termination of a contract between the parties. The termination may be due to many causes including early termination of a lease by a lessee, a breach of contract by one party, or a failure to perform. Non-cash portion of lease exit costs Licensee debt cancelation charges Provision for lease and loan guarantees Gain on mortgage settlements Gain on sale of affilate Other than temporary impairment on investments Impairment and lease exit charges on retail real estate Deferred income taxes Other, net Changes in operating assets and liabilities Changes in operating assets and liabilities [Abstract] Accounts receivable Inventories Other current assets Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Investing activities: Investing activities: [Abstract] Purchases of property and equipment Proceeds from sales of property and equipment Proceeds from sale of affiliate Release of collateral restrictions on cash equivalents Proceeds from sales of investments Purchases of investments Dividends from affiliate Equity contribution to affiliate Acquisition of retail licensee store Other, net Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Financing activities: Financing activities: [Abstract] Repayments of real estate notes payable Issuance of common stock Repurchases of common stock Cash dividends Payments on other notes Net cash used in financing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents - end of period Note 1 - Basis of Presentation Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Note 2 - Interim Financial Presentation Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Note 3 - Revenue Recognition Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Note 4 - Accounts Receivable Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Note 5 - Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Note 6 - Notes Receivable Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block] Note 7 - Unconsolidated Affiliated Companies Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block] Note 8 - Real Estate Notes Payable and Bank Credit Facility Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Note 9 - Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Note 10 - Licensee Acquisitions Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Note 11 - Contingencies Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Note 12 - Post-Employment Benefit Obligations Postemployment Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Note 13 - Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Note 14 - Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Note 15 - Restructuring, Asset Impairment, and Other Charges Restructuring, Impairment, and Other Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Note 16 - Non-Operating Income and Expense Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Note 17 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block] Note 18 - Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Note 19 - Subsequent Events Subsequent Events [Text Block] Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Table Text Block] Schedule of Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block] Schedule of Credit Losses for Financing Receivables, Current [Table Text Block] Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block] Activity in Reserves for Excess Quantities and Obsolete Inventory by Segment [Table Text Block] Schedule of Notes Receivable [Table Text Block] Allowance for Credit Losses on Financing Receivables [Table Text Block] Impaired Financing Receivables [Table Text Block] Past Due Financing Receivables [Table Text Block] Summary of Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block] Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block] Schedule of Unaudited Income Statement of Unconsolidated Affiliated Company [Table Text Block] Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation [Table Text Block] Schedule of Net Sales and Operating Loss from Acquired Stores [Table Text Block] Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block] Schedule of Pension Liability [Table Text Block] Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block] Schedule of Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Available-for-sale Securities [Table Text Block] Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Table Text Block] Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block] Changes to Assets Measured at Fair Value Using Level 3 Inputs [Table Text Block] Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block] Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block] Schedule of Activity Related to Accrued Lease Exit Costs [Table Text Block] Schedule of Sale of Stock by Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee Disclosure [Table Text Block] Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Table Text Block] Fair Value by Asset Class [Domain] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] Total deferred revenue and cost Total deferred revenue and cost [Abstract] Sales revenue deferred during the period for failing to meet SAB 104 revenue recognition criteria. Revenue deferred Cost of sales deferred during the period associated with review deferred for failure to meet SAB 104 revenue recognition criteria. Cost deferred Accounts receivable Accounts receivable [Abstract] Gross accounts receivable Allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts receivable, net Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts [Abstract] Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Domain] Balance at November 26, 2011 Additions charged to expense Write-offs and other deductions Balance at August 25, 2012 Inventories Inventories [Abstract] Wholesale finished goods